Will Gokak Mills regain its lost glory?

Belagavi: Gokak Mills, one of the oldest textile mills in the country, set up by British rulers in 1885 at Gokak, is at the centre of a controversy after it stopped operations owing to an ongoing tussle with employees. More than 1500 employees who are jobless are on a massive agitation demanding that the factory resume operations.

After the mill employees’ agitation turned serious in Belagavi city, the government intervened and decided to hold a meeting of the mill's management, employees association and senior officials of the district administration on April 28 and 29 to initiate measures for resumption of operations. District Minister Satish Jarkiholi urged the factory management to first resume work and later hold a meeting to discuss whether employee demands could be fulfilled or not. Politician Bheemshi Jarkiholi who is heading the employees’ protest said, thousands of employees were on the streets due to the mill's closure. He urged the government to help restart the mill and also work out measures to fulfill their demands.

Minister Satish Jarkiholi has urged the mill management to attend the meeting on April 28 and 29 where several top government officials and leaders of the mill's employees association would be present.