All quiet on nokkukooli front in Kottayam

“It is a party programme and a decision of the LDF government and will be implemented without any hiccup,” said V.N. Vasavan, CITU national executive committee member and district secretary of the CPI(M), on Friday. The decision has gone to the lower rungs of the CITU and a series of meetings are on to create awareness among the members of nokkukooli, he said.

“So far no complaints have been received by the CITU. If we get a complaint we will definitely look into it and ask the erring members to return the amount. If they refuse, stringent action will be taken,” he said.

Meanwhile, district labour officer (enforcement) P. Reghunath said the department had not received any complaint after May 1.

“Assistant labour officers have been asked to a take strict stance if any breach of the order comes to them in the form of a complaint,” he said.

In the present situation, the most benefited would be those who have to depend on workers for their residential purposes.

Mr. Raghunath said in such cases the owner would have the freedom to choose the workers but he/she would have to give them the fees fixed by the authorities.

Deputy Labour Commissioner K.L. Satheesh Kumar said the most important aspect would be to create awareness among the public and the workers alike.

Residents associations and trade unions would have a crucial role to play in this regard. “It is important to know whom to contact in case of a nokkukooli issue,” he said adding that the assistant labour officers and the police stations concerned should be contacted in such situations.