Fake news has always been a big problem in India!
And now once again a leading Hindi daily of Jharkhand has published a report that raises serious allegations on a leading apparel export house of Tirupur – Cotton Blossom.
Apparel Resources checked the fact with the company.
The Hindi daily reported that 36 girls/women from the Dumka district of Jharkhand were forced to work in the factory.
The report said that these girls/women went to Tirupur four months ago and not now. The work was discontinued in the company and so these workers were not given pay or any other facility.
The report also added that the company also kept the Aadhar card of the employees, and did not even allow them to go home.
An NGO, local administration of both the states, railway officials and political leaders made collective efforts to bring back these women. It also quoted the local MLA that the State Government will try to arrange employment for these women in Jharkhand.
On the other hand, when Apparel Resources approached the company, Milton John, MD of the company said, “The 36 girls had joined us before lockdown and had worked only for a month. Due to lockdown, no units have been working for the last one month. The girls were accommodated at our hostel with all amenities provided for their safe and healthy living and with complete freedom.”
He further added that all the girls had their bank accounts opened and salary too has been processed to their respective bank accounts. He also denied that the company held the Aadhar cards of any of the girls.
“Due to lockdown, we had informed the girls not to go out. The girls were asked to stay within the campus as we had facilities of healthcare and isolation wards in case of infections,” he said.
The company said that the girls never made any representation to the management to be sent home and management only came to know of this when the police visited their premises.
“Following inspection, it was clear to the Collectorate and police that the company had not done any wrong and the girls were in a very safe environment. Each of the girls have given a written statement to the police that they were secure and that they were not held against their wishes,” the company said.
“We have proactively ensured that the 36 girls were provided tickets and e-pass to travel together in spite of the lockdown restrictions and the girls were escorted and provided travel in company transport to the railway station on 2 June. We are in touch with all the girls and would like to inform that they are willing to return to work after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted,” said Milton.
Also Read: Human trafficking in Jharkhand continues in the name of jobs being offered in garment industry
