Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 15: The members of the Udupi chapter of Centre for the Indian Trade Union, comprising daily wage labourers, staged a protest in front of the DC office Udupi on Tuesday, March 14 demanding the release of stalled subsidy.

The members were supposed to get financial support for various issues like marriage, surgery, education but applications have been pending since 2013.

T Vishwanath Shetty, district president of CITU addressed the protesters and said, "There are nearly 6000 workers registered in CITU. Many CITU members have applied for subsidy from 2013 though 2015, for financial support towards marriage, surgery, student allowance and pension.  The pending applications are kept in Mangaluru assistant commissioner's office. Some subsidy amounts have been released, but have not been credited to the beneficiaries' bank accounts."

With CITU principles highlight 'unity and harmony' on one side, we have certain people in the society who only think about themselves. Money is being misused by a few. The concerned department has crores of funds, but refuses to spend it," he added about officials misusing the funds that are to be released annually but have been stalled for the last 3 years.

Members also put forth a few demands including a meeting to be organised under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner once in three months.  

The construction workers demanded that the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mangaluru and labour officials from Udupi, visit the place of protest and give immediate solutions to the workers' problems.

U Das Bhandary, Suresh, Vittal Poojary and other CITU members were present at the protest.