Articles by Timir Basu

Owners Flout Settlements Timir Basu EVERY new settlement in the jute industry faces the same old stalemate its non-implementation by the owners. The 1984 tripartite settlement too, signed on April 7 in the presence of the Chief Minister and the labour Minister, is meeting the same fate. The preceding 83-days long strike -- (he longest since the industry's workers first struck work in 1896

the workers of HEC are the victims of this atmosphere, as it corrodes the working class character of a section of workers.
Coming back to the main question, linking wage increases with increased productivity (or even production) would mean a wage freeze. This is what the unions have to counter. Unofficially, it is being said that the government had dropped the attempt to link increase in wages with production. What new guidelines will be issued is not yet certain, but the Bureau of Public Enterprises' old guideline of not allowing a more than 10 per cent wage increase is still valid. Given the desperate resource position of the Central government it is likely that an attempt will be made to further cut that down and impose a virtual wage-freeze under some formula or the other.

September 26, 1981 WEST BENGAL Bleak Outlook for Power Timir Basu WEST BENGAL continues to be oppressed by chronic power shortages. In fact, power cuts are on the increase. Within one month, industrial activity had to be halted on more than one occasion because of restrictions imposed on high tension consumption. Domestic consumers are, of course, faced with power failure every day. While the bUger establishments have been somehow tiding over the crisis, either by dubious means or by pumping extra money into captive generators, small enterprises arevery hard hit. The West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) has even gone so far as to warn that there will be still less power in the coming years. The Power Secretary disclosed that the state would have to live with a staggering shortfall of 1000 MW till


from the bumper harvests of this year and its preference for supplies from abroad in order, as is claimed, to discipline domestic producers and traders. This is but part of the overall economic philosophy which has gained ascendancy. This is to let market forces have a free play while the government is unable or unwilling to regulate the economy on the basis of any criteria or priority relevant to economic growth or equity.

and in Pachapur it is 24 kilos. Each area has its own peculiar customs also. Certain rebates are demanded in the purchase of tobacco. These are popularly known as 'cuts' and these vary from area to area. In kadakla, for example, certain 'cuts' are made in the weighing of the tobacco: 7 to 9 kilos are cut for tobacco thread and dust; 3 kilos are cut for the weight of the gunny bag; and the most peculiar cut is the 'air- cut', which is the amount that is reduced for tobacco flying in the air at the time of measuring. One kilo is normally deducted as 'air-cut'. Over and above this there is a concession 'cut' of Rs 5 per hundered rupees. So if a fanner gets Rs 800 for 80 kilos his 'cuts' would he as follows: