“We have received about 39,000 applications for jobs from millworkers and their children,” principal secretary, urban development department, T C Benjamin said. “The list of eligible persons would be finalised after the concerned millowner checks each and every case and certifies the eligibility. The final list would be displayed by December 5,” he added.

Benjamin further said a separate employment exchange centre would be created by the government exclusively for millworkers and their family members in the diversified industries coming up on the mill land.

At the meeting held at Mantralaya on Monday, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh asked officials to examine modernisation proposals and monitor whether millowners were following the norms. Accordingly, officials are to visit four mills against which complaints have been received. The officials are expected to submit their report in two weeks.

Deshmukh instructed officials against giving permission for modernisation to any millowner until all dues of workers are paid.

The government has evolved a scheme whereby millowners are expected to train millworkers rendered jobless and provide placements in new offices or businesses coming up on the mill-land. The state has imposed a condition that preference should be given to millworkers and their children in jobs in new ventures on mill sites.

The four mills which are under scanner of the government are Prakash Mills, Ruby Mills and two units of Bombay Dyeing. According to official records, the four mills have not handed over 39,000 square metres of land out of 50,000 square metres that was to be given to Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) as per norms.

Jobs for displaced millworkers are likely to be streamlined by February 2009, according to Benjamin.