1.5 lakh people in Tamil Nadu left jobless after firecracker ban

Around 1.5 lakh people in the firecracker manufacturing industry have been left jobless in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, amid blanket bans on firecrackers in several states. Firecracker makers, who were anticipating a boom this Diwali after a two-year halt due to Covid-19, are also facing losses.

It is noteworthy that the firecracker sector has employed over 7 lakh people, and there are currently more than 1,000 registered firecracker units in operation. For more than 6.5 lakh Sivakasi families, the fireworks industry has been their only source of income. However, recent developments, including the ban on barium, have left over 1.5 lakh people jobless.

“The garland cracker has been banned despite being a significant item. Since garland crackers are entirely handmade, and when we are not able to produce them, workers lose their jobs. This work was performed by around 40 percent of factory employees, “one of the workers said.” Nagendra, a fireworks worker, stated, “I’ve spent the last 20 years working in a cracker factory. The firecracker industry is the only industry in the Sivakasi area. The firecracker industry is the only source of income for the 5 million people that live here. Agriculture cannot be practised under these conditions; only the firecracker business can.”

“For many years, the fireworks industry has been afflicted by issues such as a restriction on the use of certain chemicals and a ban on the manufacture of some explosives. Due to the rain, fireworks cannot be manufactured at this time. This has resulted in employment losses, and many states have banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers around Diwali. Thus, our work is not yielding the desired results,” he further added.

“Therefore, on behalf of the firecracker workers, I request that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu should consult Prime Minister Modi and raise the livelihood of the firecracker workers,” Nagendra said.

Nagama, another fireworks worker, stated, “There is no longer any production or selling of firecrackers. We don’t know of any other businesses besides crackers that are being harmed by government laws that are costing us our jobs. The government should consider our welfare and make sound decisions.”