Mangalore, May 20: Sudatta Jain, labour union leader and general secretary of Akhila Bharata Karmika Sangha, had commenced his hunger strike for the benefits of hundreds of labourers in the region on May 12, enters ninth day of his fasting but evokes no response from the officials concerned.
Jain continued his protest in front of the DC’s office taking only water and told that he will even stop consuming water if officials do not respond to his demands by Tuesday.
Jain’s main demand is that facilities should be provided to the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital located at Shivbagh in the city, which is the only ray of hope for hundreds of ESI members in the region.
He said that the hospital, which was opened in 1979, do not have sufficient number of staff and required facilities. Another major demand of Jain is that all workers in the unorganised sector should be provided the benefits of ESI and provident fund schemes.
Newly elected MLA of Mangalore City South constituency JR Lobo had visited Jain and assured him that the demands will be looked into. However, Jain said, nothing has been happened because of the apathy of officials.
“MLA JR Lobo has assured me that he would look into my demands. He has directed officials to take the issue seriously. However, none of the officials from ESI department visited here so far. I will stop drinking water from Tuesday, if none of the officials respond to my demand. Officials of the ESI department will be responsible for the deterioration of my health,” Jain said.
courtesy:TOI
