MADURAI: Thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises in Tamil Nadu are going on a one-day total strike on April 20th 2023 by stopping their production in protest against the increase of power tariff-EB charges by the State government. The MSMEs in Tamil Nadu will remain shut for one day expressing their complete opposition to the hike in electricity charges of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
Leading industrial body MADITSSIA had today announced from Madurai that various industry bodies in the State have announced for one-day shutdown and strike on April 20th 2023 in order to draw the attention of Tamil Nadu State government to rollback the increase in power tariff because “the MSMEs are becoming sick and reaching closure stage”.
Mr.M.S.Sampath, president of Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA), along with association’s honorary secretary Mr.Rm.Lakshminarayanan and vice-president Mr.A.Kodeeswaran had highlighted the severe problems faced by MSMEs, at a press conference in Madurai on April 18th 2023.
“The increase of electricity tariff is a very big problem for micro and small industries. The Tamil Nadu government should withdraw the EB charges hike. The peak hour charges, fixed charges etc are a huge burden for MSMEs. Already, the raw material costs had gone up and with the increase of power tariff charges, we are in for a complete crisis. Our appeal to the Tamil Nadu government is to rollback the power tariff for industrial units especially the MSMEs since there is crisis after crisis for small industries right from the COVID lockdown period,” MADITSSIA president Mr.Sampath told reporters at the press meet held in Madurai on April 18th 2023.
“Industries cannot survive if these type of charges are collected from Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. We want industry-friendly environment in all aspects, and especially with power tariff. There are about 50 lakh MSMEs in Tamil Nadu, they give jobs and employment to lakhs of people. Since the increased power tariff, FIXED CHARGES, PEAK HOUR CHARGES etc are very high, we are going for a total shutdown on April 20th 2023, by stopping production completely in MSMEs in State. MADITSSIA is joining the protest called by top bodies like TANSTIA etc,” the office-bearers of MADITSSIA announced at the pressmeet in Madurai on April 18th 2023.
