Reopen jute mill, staff urge govt

Forced to seek alternative livelihoods; over 1k employees plan to launch agitation in Salur

- SREENU BABU PATIVADA @Parvathipuram-Manyam

EMPLOYEES of Sri Raghava Agro Industries Private Limited, popularly known as Jeegiram Jute Mill in Salur mandal, are preparing for agitation, demanding that the management reopen the mill.

The mill was shut down on June 9, 2021, citing a shortage of raw materials, leaving around 3,000 families, including 1,100 employees, jobless. Since then, the employees have been working as daily wage laborers, such as porters, lorry cleaners, and construction workers, to make ends meet.

The Jeegiram Jute Mill, established in 1986 during the TDP regime, has been the only industry in the Salur assembly segment for four decades, supporting around 3,000 families directly and indirectly. The jute industry has faced challenges due to lack of modernization and the emergence of synthetic materials.