What began as a demand for fair wages quickly escalated into violent unrest in Noida’s industrial belt, leaving behind an uneasy calm even a day later. Workers say their core issue — low pay and poor working conditions — remains unresolved despite the heavy police presence.
Sanket Upadhyay, reporting from the ground, said the protests turned violent as a section of workers went on a rampage, setting vehicles ablaze and pelting stones. However, he emphasised that most workers do not support violence but insist their concerns are legitimate.
“The biggest concern and demand from the workers… is that they get fair pay,” he said, highlighting the trigger behind the unrest.
Ground reality
At the centre of the unrest is the Mother-Son Automobile Parts factory in Noida, where the protests first began before spreading to other industrial units. Visuals from the site show shattered windshields, stones scattered across the road, and signs of the previous day’s violence.
While the authorities claim the situation is under control, the ground reality suggests otherwise. Security forces, including the Provincial Armed Constabulary, Rapid Action Force, and Uttar Pradesh Police, continue to conduct flag marches to prevent further escalation.
Also read: Noida protests: Police say ‘outsiders’ tried to incite unrest; several detained
Despite this, industrial activity remains subdued. Roads that are usually bustling with traffic appear unusually quiet, indicating that factories are not operating at full capacity.
Wage demand
Workers say their primary demand is a minimum monthly wage of ₹20,000 for an 8-hour shift. Currently, wages vary widely, with some workers claiming they earn as little as ₹11,000 for a 12-hour workday.
“Get as little as ₹11,000 for a 12-hour shift. Now that’s too little,” a worker said, underlining the financial strain faced by many.
Another worker added, “The company is giving us ₹200. How will we manage our expenses?”
Wage gap
A key point of contention is the disparity in wages across states. Workers allege that companies pay higher minimum wages in neighbouring Haryana and Delhi, while wages in Uttar Pradesh remain significantly lower.
This discrepancy has created frustration among workers, who question why they are paid less for similar work.
Also read: Noida unrest: ‘Who gave cops the right to beat us’, ask workers even as UP hikes wages
“How can that be?” Sanket noted, describing the situation as a “pressure cooker” that eventually led to the eruption of violence.
Trigger factors
Beyond wages, rising living costs have further aggravated the situation. Workers pointed to increasing LPG cylinder prices as a major burden, which pushed already strained household budgets to the brink.
“The moment the cost of LPG increased… that led to such a huge burden,” Sanket explained, identifying it as a key trigger for the unrest.
Despite the violence subsiding for now, workers say these underlying issues remain unaddressed.
Uneasy calm
Authorities insist the situation is under control, but the calm on the ground remains fragile. Sporadic incidents of violence have still been reported, though on a smaller scale.
Also read: Ground report: Noida clashes shift to housing societies as maids protest for wage hike
Police say they are working on two fronts — preventing further violence and addressing worker concerns through discussions with trade unions and committees. However, many workers feel that “precious little has changed” and fear that tensions could flare up again if their demands are not met.
Larger issue
Workers argue that their demands are not anti-industry but about basic dignity and survival.
“Most of the workers I spoke to did not support violence,” Sanket said. “But they say that just because violence has happened, that does not discredit the point that they are trying to make.”
The unrest, they insist, is not limited to one factory but reflects broader issues across Noida’s industrial ecosystem.
The question
With wages, working conditions, and rising costs still unresolved, the situation raises a critical question — has the unrest truly been contained, or is it only a temporary pause before another flare-up?
The content above has been transcribed from video using a fine-tuned AI model. To ensure accuracy, quality, and editorial integrity, we employ a Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) process. While AI assists in creating the initial draft, our experienced editorial team carefully reviews, edits, and refines the content before publication. At The Federal, we combine the efficiency of AI with the expertise of human editors to deliver reliable and insightful journalism.
Comments are closed.