Onion Auctions in Nashik to Resume From June 18

Onion traders in Maharashtra's Nashik district have 'stayed' their strike and onion auctions of will resume on Wednesday after a gap of two days.

Differences over how much wages should be paid to porters led to a strike on Monday and Tuesday.

The two-day strike by onion traders over differences with 'mathadi' workers (head-load porters) on the levy issue has been stayed this evening till July 10, following a meeting of state marketing federation officials, traders and mathadi workers at Nashik District Central Co-op Bank here, said Nitin Jain, a trader present at the meeting.

A committee has been formed to review the levy (mathadi workers' wages) issue and it will submit its report to the state government by July 10, he said.

The meeting was held by District Sub-Registrar Sunil Bansode, where representatives of traders, officer bearers of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees, mathadi workers and state marketing federation were present.

Both traders and mathadi workers have agreed to hold onion auctions till July 10, but have warned of resuming the agitation from July 11 if the issue is not resolved.

Meanwhile, prices of onion were not affected due to the strike in Nashik district today, as auctions continued at Navi Mumbai APMC and elsewhere, Mr Jain said.

However, over 30 wholesale markets in Nashik district remained closed for the second day due to agitation by mathadi workers, who are demanding a hike in their remuneration (levy) from traders.

All 15 APMCs in Nashik district remained closed for two days. Traders are opposed to the increase in levy rates paid to workers from existing 34 per cent to 44 per cent.