Ashok Leyland to halt production for up to 15 days in October
New Delhi: After its sales witnessed a major slump in August and September, commercial vehicles major Ashok Leyland on Friday said non-working days for all its plants may range between two to 15 days in October.
Sales of commercial vehicles have been declining since July and Ashok Leyland, one of the largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles, reported a reduction of at least 50 per cent in its sales numbers in September as compared to the same period in 2018.
"We hereby inform you that to align our production in line sales, the company's plants at various locations will be observing non-working days ranging from 2-15 days during the month of October 2019," Ashok Leyland said in a statement filed with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday.
The company had been announcing non-working days since August citing continuation of sluggishness and contraction in the commercial vehicle market.
The company maintains that the proposed shutdown is part of “corrective actions” are being taken to safeguard the interests of the company.
The decision by Ashok Leyland came days aer the company released its sales figures for the month of September that reported a 50 per cent drop.
Courtesy: www.deccanherald.com
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Protesting ASHA workers to cut their hair to intensify agitation in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram(PTI): The ASHA workers protesting outside the Secretariat here have announced that they will intensify their agitation by staging a 'hair cutting demonstration' on Monday as their stir enters 50th day.
As the government has not made any favourable decision, a section of protesters launched an indefinite hunger strike at the protest venue here last week.
Mini S, one of the leaders of the protesting ASHA workers, criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday for remaining silent about their agitation and said they would not backtrack from the stir until the government accepts their demands.
"The CM is concerned even about animals, birds and other creatures in the wake of the heat wave warning in the state. But, he has not uttered any word on these ASHA workers who have been protesting under scorching sun for the last 50 days," she told reporters here.
She said she had cut her hair several times before but it is for the first time that she is doing it as part of a protest.
"Not just me, ASHA workers who arrive here from several districts will cut their hair as part of the protest. It will become a significant episode in the agitation," the leader added.
A section of ASHA workers have been protesting outside the Secretariat here for the last several weeks raising various demands including post-retirement benefits and an increase in honorarium.
The Left government in the state made it clear that such a steep hike in honorarium is not practically possible and said it was the responsibility of the Centre to address the demands of the ASHA workers.
According to the government, it has not received any cash grant from the central government under the National Health Mission (NHM) for 2023-24 for payment towards various Centrally sponsored schemes, including ASHA.
The central government has, however, rejected the state's claims and contended that it has given what was due, but the utilisation certificate did not come from Kerala.
It said that once the certificate comes, the requisite amount would be given to the ASHA workers and the state.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda had also announced in the Parliament that the Mission Steering Group of the NHM has decided to raise the incentives for ASHA workers.
