Cynics say that if the horrendous firecracker accident in a factory at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu had not killed 38 people, it would have hardly drawn any attention. It is taken for granted that at least 2-3 people die here every month in some explosion or the other. Grieving families accept this as a fact of life. People who know the area say it is quite common to see explosive chemicals such as potassium nitrate strewn about in these factories. Yet, the nearest burn hospital is in Madurai, which is 60 km away. The roads to Madurai are in bad shape, which is a hindrance both while rushing the victims to hospitals and while bringing in fire-fighters. In this recent accident, 34 young men died leaving behind young widows and children.
Sivakasi and Virudhunagar account for 90% of firecracker production in the country. Sivakasi, which is well-known for its match industry, diversified into producing fire-crackers, a natural extension. In the late 1970s, Sivakasi and child labour grabbed the country?s attention when a bus carrying workers to a match factory got caught in unexpected flash floods and 35 people were drowned, all of them children under 15. Match factories, in that era, mostly employed children. Today, thanks to the widespread publicity given to child exploitation, this practice has more or less been eradicated. Production has become semi-automatic in most places. Children used to roll small crackers too, but no longer. However, child labour still survives as a cottage industry as rolling of matches and crackers is done at homes after the children return from school.
The fireworks industry took root in India in the early part of the 19th century, when the first factory was set up in Calcutta. The entrepreneurial Nadars of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu brought the industry to Sivakasi. Import restrictions during the Second World War forced the manufacturers to innovate, and a flourishing industry was established. A leading manufacturer, Standard Fireworks? website says, ?During the year 1940, the Indian Explosives Act was enforced whereby a system of licensing was introduced for manufacture, possession and sale of fireworks. This Act paved the way for organised sectors in the industry. Sivakasi soon became a home for fireworks. Over the years, the industry has successfully established an export market and in Sivakasi, there is a cluster of firecracker manufacturers who export to the West and each of them has a turnover of over R500 crore.? The industry?s collective turnover is around R2,000 crore.
Safety norms have been established, only to be flouted. As facts come tumbling out from this recent disaster, it is apparent that Om Shakti Fireworks was working overtime to meet deadlines, as the maximum demand for fireworks is during Diwali. According to several reports, while the government permits only 35 buildings, this factory had 55 buildings. These housed highly-crowded cracker manufacturing units and storage rooms. A maximum of only four workers are permitted in a room depending on the kind of crackers being manufactured. A company can employ only 120 workers, while Om Shakti had over 320 workers. Protective gear was given the go-by. Norms for storing chemicals and explosive materials were rarely followed. Workers were not trained to handle hazardous material.
What were the authorities doing? These disasters always bring out tales of negligence and corruption. The government has actually listed out 80 rules to ensure safety in these units. Manufacturers can ignore them by taking care of officials. Industry sources allege various departments (such as the controller of explosives, the inspectorate of factories, fire and rescue service, police and local administration) have their hands greased regularly.
A lot of cracker unit licences are given to businessmen with no technical knowledge. They, in turn, lease these out to contractors out to make a quick buck. They engage untrained, unskilled labour in a highly volatile industry, a sure recipe for disaster. As is becoming increasingly common, during the busy season, workers from outside the state are hired, all of whom have communication issues. September and October are the busiest months for the firecracker industry. Untrained workers are hired for piece rates. They are not on daily wages. Consequently, the more crackers they produce, the more they earn. Nobody has the time to think of safety issues.
There are more than 700 factories in and around Sivakasi. It is the firecracker capital of the country. The industry has become quite innovative and is coming out with lustrous designer crackers. This has become a necessity as more and more states have come down heavily on the decibel levels created by the crackers. Even during Diwali, crackers are banned after 10 PM in Tamil Nadu. The flip side apparently is that more hazardous chemicals are required for designer crackers than for high decibel ones.
The problems in this area are complex ones. This southern belt of Tamil Nadu is arid and dry. There is no water and agriculture is not possible. The boom in match and fire-cracker industries created employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. To make labels for match boxes, a printing industry was started, which led to a world class printing industry.
Today, educational institutions have mushroomed in the Virudhunagar district. A high percentage of children (almost 80-90%) are getting through their plus-two exams. Colleges and schools have been set up mostly by the private sector. The problem is that there are very few employment opportunities for young graduates, outside these industries. They are not willing to work in the increasingly dangerous units. Although educational institutions are flourishing, there are no professional collages. The Virudhunagar district possibly has the largest number of unemployed graduates in the state. The problems the district faces need urgent government intervention and governance on the part of local authorities.