Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 13: Construction Workers Federation Of India (CWFI) and Construction Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), district unit staged a protest in support of the statewide protest against building workers' cess added to GST.

Vice president of CWFI Balakrishna Shetty said, "The union has been fighting since two years for their rights and infrastructures. The rate of GST added to cess of construction workers is really condemnable.

"The welfare cess for beedi workers is already executed. The union demands that construction workers shall not be added to GST bill. Many of the labourers have suffered and are sitting unemployed after the execution of demonetization in India.

"The government should restart the earlier plan in providing financial assistance to the registered or get their children married off in order to avail the cash amount of Rs 50,000. The earlier proposal has been revised. In the revised proposal the amount will be deposited in the bank account for three years. Pension amount shall be increased to Rs 300. The government shall provide scholarship from first standard, death compensation shall be increased to Rs 5 lac and natural death compensation amount increased to Rs 1 lac. The welfare board should drop plans of offering smartphones and bus pass.

"Instead of this, it is better to invest money in welfare programmes along with strengthening the current 12 schemes.

"The Construction Workers Union demands to fix the rate of sand per unit that is not more than Rs 2,000. The government should have a uniform rate for coastal districts with regard to every unit of sand.

Das Bhandary, Shekhar Bangera, Kaviaraj and others were present.