Fast mechanisation has elevated each day arrivals at direct procurement centres, however power workers shortages and large pay disparities for “load males” have choked shopping for operations throughout the Cauvery Delta, union leaders mentioned. They cautioned fast administrative fixes are wanted to stop additional disruption.
C. Chandrakumar, state normal secretary of the TNCSC Staff’ Union (affiliated to AITUC), instructed The Hindu {that a} dramatic shift in harvest practices had left procurement infrastructure and staffing badly outmatched. “In contrast to a decade in the past, harvest and transport now occur inside hours. A thousand baggage can attain a DPC in a short while,” he mentioned. “However workers power has not stored tempo; recent recruitment has been negligible. We warned the administration a month in the past — after the Mettur water launch — to open further DPCs and contingency CAP models. These steps weren’t taken in time,” he mentioned.
Mr. Chandrakumar recognized the acute scarcity of load males — the laborers who deal with guide lifting and loading of gunny baggage — because the chief reason behind procurement delay this season. “Procurement was delayed primarily as a result of load males weren’t obtainable when wanted. Even now, officers are managing with nice problem,” he mentioned and appealed for pressing remedial motion.
Wage disparity
The union laid naked stark and complicated wage anomalies that, they argue, discourage work and invite middle-level malpractice. “At DPCs, the speed of ₹10 per bag was fastened in December 2021,” Mr. Chandrakumar mentioned. “At CAP models, the speed is barely ₹1.48 per bag, rail loaders get ₹5 per bag, whereas non-public contractors pay as much as ₹15. Such variation fuels corruption at decrease ranges and discourages conventional load males from taking on work,” he mentioned.
He raised a fragile however consequential administrative drawback: a Authorities Order that bars or discourages males aged round 60 from enterprise guide loading. “That order has successfully pushed many conventional load males out of labor. In some circumstances, funds meant for these aged staff are credited to the youthful kin, although these elders now not bodily elevate the luggage. This disrupts native labor markets and removes skilled fingers from the sphere at precisely the time they’re wanted,” he mentioned and urged the authorities to overview the rule and its implementation whereas defending employee security.
Elavari Okay., normal secretary of the TNCSC staff’ union (INTUC), raised procedural and equity points referring to compensation and momentary workers. “In line with TNCSC guidelines on weight-loss and motion losses, everlasting buy officers and others are accountable. However it’s inappropriate to withhold funds solely from momentary seasonal staff or to refuse funds citing the identical causes,” he mentioned and demanded administrative correction.
Each leaders criticized the absence of fundamental pre-procurement planning. “There was no scheme report this season detailing anticipated manufacturing and required manpower,” Mr. Chandrakumar mentioned. “With out that, deployment is advert hoc and the system strains.” The unions pressed for fast measures: structure of an unbiased committee to repair a market-aligned, uniform wage for load staff; immediate filling of greater than 1,200 sanctioned vacancies below the 12/3 contract; and reopening of greater than 50 open-yard storage facilities in Delta districts that have been beforehand closed.
Union representatives pointed to extreme understaffing at storage models and CAP services. “Many depots that want dozens of clerical workers function with solely a fraction of the workforce,” Mr. Elavari mentioned. “This shortfall impacts weighing, packing, and safe dispatch and will increase scope for malpractice,” he added.
Revealed – October 26, 2025 08:42 pm IST