The tribals in and around the city are gearing up to celebrate Tusu, the harvest festival, with traditional fanfare and gaiety. However, the tribal festival is also a matter of concern for industrial belt at Adityapur.

The three-day festival starting from January 13 to 15 precisely and, in some cases even a week, the small and medium industries literally close down their production, as most of the labourers go on Tusu holiday to their native places.

According to industrial sources nearly 70 per cent of the workers likely go on leave for 10 days tentatively from January 13 most of the labour intensive manufacturing firms in the Asia’s leading industrial hub have decided to make up the potential loss through additional production before hand.

In addition to this several of the enterprises have planned to offer fiscal incentives to the labourers to hold them back on job during the upcoming crucial 10 days.

“Every year during the time of Tusu labourers in large numbers go on mass leave. This year too the situation is same.  Given the fact that labour shortage is going to hit the industries during Tusu festival several of the firms have decided on alternative mechanism to make up the potential loss,” said an official of Adityapur Small Industries Association (ASIA).

According to industry insiders, about 40,000 workers go on leave for about 10 days to their native place for celebrating the festival owing to which the industry at large incur production loss roughly to the tune of over Rs 25 crore.

 “This is common phenomenon, which is witnessed every year. The irony is that we cannot employ temporary workers for the time being in place of our regular workers as it would lead to unrest among the workers,” said Bharat Vasani, senior functionary, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

 The companies operating in the Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority’s jurisdiction employ workers largely from the fringe areas of the Seraikela district so therefore during the festival season, especially during the Tusu festival, majority of the workers go home to be with their families and enjoy the celebration.Owners of industrial units at Adityapur reel under lack of works force and industrialists said that it would take a week to resume normal production.

Officials of Adityapur Small Scale Industries Association (ASIA) said that like every year this year too the labourers would be on leave for the tribal festival.