News & Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/RX)
 

Udupi, Nov 30: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district Bidi Workers’ Federation (AITUC) staged a protest, urging a hike in pension in front of Provident Fund office block, here on Tuesday November 30.

S L Radha Sundaresh, chief secretary of Karnataka Ananganawadi workers and assistant Federation, addressing the protesters said that nothing will move in the governance unless labourers come to the street fighting for their rights.

The state administration has no funds to grant pensions to labourers, while crores of rupees are sanctioned for Mutts. A bidi labourer is granted a pension of Rs 20 per month without understanding the ground reality of bidi industry, added Radha Sundaresh. He urged the state administration to raise the pension to Rs 1,500.

The protesters alleged that there was a provision of converting the pension into units and the accumulated pension amount to be issued in a lump sum, in case of death of pensioners.  This provision was stopped since September 2008 which has deprived the pensioner’s right.

The rally was held from CPI (M) office up to PF office block, where the protesters presented their memorandum to district assistant commissioner Sentil Kumar.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district Bidi Workers’ Federation president P Sanjeev, chief secretary V S Berinja, Udupi taluk bidi labour union president Vittal Shetty, chief secretary B Shekar, treasurer K V Bhat, secretary Sanjeevara Serigar, assistant secretary Shanta Nayak and AITUC district leader M Karunakar, Suresh Kumar were present on the occasion.