PONDA: Although the Sanjivani Sugar Factory’s operations have come to a halt, the harvesting of the sugarcane crop grown in the factory-owned land has begun. The harvest will be sold to Laila Sugar Factory at Khanapur, Karnataka. Meanwhile, the contract of the contract-based workers has been extended till July next year, but the fear of the government directing them to take voluntary retirement still looms large.
The harvesting of sugarcane began from Sunday and a large portion of it will be taken to the factory at Khanapur, while the rest will be sold to other factories. Last year Sanjivani factory had earned more than Rs 2 lakhs in revenue by selling its sugarcane to other States and the situation looks hopeful this year as well. More importantly, the sugarcane producers will be given their payment within 10-15 days. There are 79 contract-based workers employed in Sanjivani whose contract the government has extended till July 2024. However if the procedure of VRS is completed before that, then the workers will have no other choice than to leave their jobs. As per sources, the process will be hastened from this month onwards.
“The harvesting of sugarcane for this month has begun. A huge team of 500 workers arranged by the contractor has arrived in the State to harvest the crops. The harvesting will be completed in the next 10 to 12 days. Sanjivani Sugar Factory like last year will receive Rs 1,150 per tonne. The process to grant VRS to the contract as well as permanent workers is underway. Although the contract of the contract-based workers has been extended till July next year, the government can take the decision to give them VRS before the extended deadline,” said factory’s administrator Satej Kamat.
