(Image source from: Maggi plant workers turn rickshaw pullers)

After production ceased at the Nestle plant in Rudrapur due to the three-month Maggi ban in Uttarakhand, around 1,100 contractual workers were forced turn as Rickshaw pullers, building laborers, tea vendors and others to make ends meet.

The Maggi plant used to produce around 300 tonnes of Maggi noodles daily. Most of the workers at the plant, particularly those hailed from states like Bihar, UP, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha were left with no other option but to take up these jobs.

Rajendra Singh, forty-three-year-old, was quoted by TOI as saying that, "Bahut bara dhakka laga tha sabko us din (It was a big blow to us). Earlier, I used to earn enough to meet my expenses and send some money to my family but now I am forced to ply a rickshaw on rent. Income has dipped considerably."

For the workers at the maggi plant, it was a source of steady income besides a matter of pride to work for Maggi production. They are clearly hoping for the resumption of work at the plant, with the Bombay high court's clear chit to Maggi recently.

Also read: Nestle India Glides Into Loss Due To Maggi Ban

However, there is still a lot of ambiguity on whether Maggi will get back to Indian shelves soon. Incase matters do not resolve in the near future, many of these workers would be forced to return back to their villages soon.

 

-Sumana