Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, May 26: Akshara Dasoha Workers, the midday meal staff comprising contract and permanent employees, staged a protest in front of DC office, Rajathadri, Manipal, in solidarity with the state-wide protest by CITU and Karnataka state Akshara Dasoha Workers on Thursday, May 25, for the fulfillment of various demands of workers.

State secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Union, Balakrishna Shetty said, "These workers have not been getting an increment for seven years now. The members of the organisation have been thus struggling for their rights for many years. Unless we keep up our struggle, the government will not wake from its sleep. Workers are getting paid just Rs 2000 per month and it is nothing for their livelihood.The MLAs are getting the highest salary and their pension is Rs 40,000, along with other facilities free of cost. Labourers should get remunerated fairly for their work."

U Das Bhandary, president of CITU said, "There will be a huge march held in Bengaluru, on September 14, wherein more than 500 workers from just the three taluks of Udupi are estimated to participate in it. There is no working class candidate in the government. Therefore, working class are deprived of facilities."

Demands put forth at the protest were as follows -

CITU pressurised the government to pay the amount that was ensured to the midday meals project workers by the central government but was scrapped.

The central government should not give mid-day meals to private institutions with the money which is supposed to be used for increasing the quality of education in government schools.

The recommended amount of Rs 4000 by the state government for Akshara Dasoha workers should be disbursed soon. The existing amount of Rs 2000 must also be revised upwards.

Excess fund from the grants to the Akshara Dasoha workers must be given to them as pension.
 
The government should make use of excess fund amount from the grants as pension for workers.

The contract labourers among Akshara Dasoha workers should be considered as ‘D’ group workers and be provide an appointment letter.

The government should provide ‘equal wages to equal work’

The government should not abandon workers in the case they fall short of attendance.

The contract workers should be considered on a par with Akshara Dasoha workers.

The government should distribute qualitative and quantitative groceries at the right time to the workers for the midday meals. The workers should get salary during summer holidays of two months.

Other demands were also put forth during the protest.

The protest was jointly held with CITU, Udupi unit.

The CITU Udupi unit leaders Suresh Kallagara, Kaviraj S, Jayashree, Sujatha Shetty and others were present.