Kochi : Neither state government nor any of the departments initiated inspections at Kitex on their own, said Industries Minister P Rajeev. A complaint lodged by MP Benny Behanan with Human Rights Commission was raised in the Assembly by Thrikakara MLA P. T. Thomas. An inspection at Kitex premise was launched based on court order after the High Court examined an audio message, believed to be from a female employee at Kitex, that claimed the staff there had to put up with indecent behaviour dealt by the company’s management. And, Kitex management has not raised a complaint on the nature of raids with any department including that of Industries, said P Rajeev at press conference in Kochi.
A cursory inspection in this regard was seized by some persons as opportunity to spread propaganda against Kerala. And when such attempts snowballed on social media, the Industries department was instructed to submit a detailed report on the concerned inspections. On parallel, reports were also sought from other departments involved. Following this, the Chief Minister convened a meeting of varied departments to discuss the matter.
MP Benny Benhanan had lodged a complaint with National Human Rights Commission. The complaint in turn was sent to the District Collector for detailed report. On 21 Feb 2021, the Collector asked Kunnathunadu Thehsildar and the Regional Labour Commissioner to look into the matter and submit a report. Based on the instruction, the Thehsildar and Asst. Labour Officer conducted inspections following which, the Regional Labour Commissioner submitted his report on 24 March, 2021 and Thehsildar submitted his on 15 Aril 2021. The District Collector then sent the reports to the National Human Rights Commission.
On 1st of June, Thrikakara MLA P. T. Thomas raised allegations against Kitex , accusing the company of failing to install Liquid Discharge System mandated by Pollution control Board. Chemical discharged in this manner into Kadambra river was polluting drinking water used by over 10 lakh people living in Thrikakara, Kunnathnadu, Aluva, Kalamassery, Thripunithura, the MLA told the House. Following this, which a inspection was carried to verify facts.
An audio clip, presumably from a woman staff from Kitex, found its way into a WhatsApp group that claimed the company’s management did not set covid protocols in place or allowed leave eligible under rules and further that it behaved indecently with the workers. The audio clip soon viralled on social media following which the Deputy Collector ordered an inspection. The Kunnathunadu Thehsildar and Regional Labour Commissioner submitted their reports on 11 May 2021.
A complaint in this regard was also lodged with the Kerala High court. And, following orders from court District Judge Sree. Nizar entrusted District Legal Service Authority Secretary, Sub Judge Sree Suresh with fact finding. Then based on instructions from the Sub Judge, the Assistant Labour Officer and representative from National Health Mission conducted inspections at Kitex on 29th of May. Also, based on the audio message, presumably from a woman employee, the Women Health Inspector from Malyidatu Primary Health Centre conducted her own inspections on May 10, 2021.
There was also a complaint over unpaid wages and the Labour Commissioner – with the knowledge of District Collector – had a joint inspection carried out in the regard by District Labour Officer and Health Workers on 8th June 2021. Some of the staff testified they were not paid minimum wages. Following this, the International Human Rights Commission Kerala President, EM Joseph, lodged a complaint to the Chief Minister on 13 May 2021 and Kunnathunadu police inquired into the matter and submitted their report on 13 May 2021.
Following a complaint that Kitex housed its workers at other places instead of making dure arrangements in its own sheds, the Labour commissioner ordered Factories and Boilers Department to conduct a probe. The Department’s Aluva office then conducted due investigations and pointed out that Kitex was dumping chemical waste into Kadambra river. MLA P. T. Thomas and John Daniel took up the matter and lodged a complaint, following which the Pollution Control Board conducted inspections to verify ground facts. In the District Development Committee meeting held on 3 July, MLA P. T. Thomas reiterated his complaint.
Quick facts
1) Neither state government no any department conducted an inspection on their own.
2) The inspections were carried out based complaint raised by Benny Benhanan who is the parliamentary member at National Human Rights Commission and order from the High Court based on a female voice recording circulated via WhatsApp.
3) To-date, Kitex management has not raised complaint of any manner with any department, Industries included.
4) Neither did the management or any of company’s representatives raise any objections during the conduct of inspections.
Matters being so, the accusations flung by Kitex against state government are of the extremely grave kind and totally opposed to facts. Today Kerala is the most investor-friendly state in the country. Kerala is the chart-topper in the Sustainable Development Index published NITI Aayog this month. Also, Kerala ranks second in the list of states with business potential in another of NITI Aayog’s index titled India Invention Index.
