The Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (Tanstia) has determined that its members will go on strike and stage protests in any respect district headquarters in the State on April 20, demanding the withdrawal of peak hour electrical energy charges for Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
S. Surulivel, vice chairman of the affiliation, mentioned that this was a call taken at a gathering of Tanstia held in Tiruchi on Tuesday. With a slowdown in orders, the MSMEs barely function throughout peak hours (morning and night). Yet, the models are paying 15% as peak hour charges, he mentioned. Further, the MSMEs that had been paying about ₹35 a month as mounted charges are actually paying ₹150 a month although the models don’t use the whole electrical energy load. The MSMEs have demanded the withdrawal of each peak hour charges and the hike in mounted charges.
Over 50,000 models are anticipated to participate in the strike and protest, he mentioned.
According to J. James, one of the chief committee members of the affiliation, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister had earlier mentioned he would look into the calls for of the MSMEs. However, no motion was taken and therefore, the MSMEs will down shutters throughout the State on April 20 and stage protests, he mentioned.
Further, the models which are to be positioned in the upcoming industrial estates of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) will get the land solely on a 99-year lease. “This is unacceptable and the protest is against this too,” mentioned Mr. James.
P. Nallathambi, president of Coimbatore SIDCO Industrial Estate Manufacturers Welfare Association, mentioned even in the present SIDCO estates, if a brand new unit desires to arrange a manufacturing unit, the land shall be made out there solely on a long-term lease foundation and the producers can’t personal the land.