Surat: Lakhs of migrant workers employed in the textile industry in the city are facing difficulties due to the ongoing commercial LPG crunch. Most workers live in rented accommodations without proper piped domestic gas connections, forcing them to depend on small cylinders that have now become expensive and difficult to refill.

To prevent an exodus and keep textile production running, textile associations and mill owners have come together to start a mega community kitchen in Pandesara. From this kitchen, thousands of workers are being served meals every day at a subsidised rate of ₹50.

Lakhs of migrant workers live in industrial areas such as Pandesara, Sachin, Bhestan, Kadodara and Palsana, where they work in textile units, dyeing mills and processing factories.

Most workers live alone or in groups and prepare food on small gas stoves. These small cylinders are often refilled from commercial cylinders, but after the government restricted commercial LPG supply to ensure domestic availability, refilling costs have increased sharply. Workers said that a small cylinder, which earlier cost around ₹80 per kg to refill, is now being sold for ₹500 per kg or more, with some paying ₹600–700 for a small bottle.

Due to the sudden rise in expenses and shortage of gas, many workers started considering returning to their hometowns until the situation improves. To prevent a possible exodus and ensure that textile production continues, several employers have begun extending financial assistance to their workers.

Worker Vikas Kumar Sharma said that LPG has not been available for the last five to six days, and even a small cylinder is being sold for ₹600–700.

To handle the situation, a community dining facility in Pandesara has been converted into a mega kitchen. According to reports, food for 4,000 to 5,000 people is prepared every day. Around 1,000 workers eat at the kitchen, while the rest of the meals are packed and delivered in bulk to factories and worker accommodations.

“If this food facility had not been started, we would have had to return to our hometown,” said another worker, Saroj Pandey.

Long queues can be seen outside the kitchen every morning, but food distribution is being carried out in a disciplined manner. Additional staff have been deployed for parcel packing to ensure faster service.

Organisers said that special care is being taken to maintain hygiene and provide nutritious food. Pure vegetarian, sattvic meals are being served to safeguard the health of workers.

“Eating outside frequently increases the risk of illness, so we are trying to provide nutritious, home-style food to the workers,” an organiser said.

Meanwhile, some mill owners have also started providing meals directly to their workers, while labour contractors in certain areas are arranging firewood so that workers can cook food without LPG. DeshGujarat