Mangalore, Nov 19: Demanding for a minimum wage of Rs 200 for every 1000 beedis rolled and various other demands, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) organized a protest for the welfare of the Beedi workers, in front of the DC office on Tuesday November 19.
The district president of CITU, KR Shriyan addressing the rally said, “Beedi workers at large suffered a lot of excretion in their work compared to earnings in their employment of Beedi making. I urge that the government must raise the minimum wages of every Beedi worker to Rs 200 per 1000 Beedis.”
CITU leader Ramani Moodabidri said that the candidates who make several promises to the beedi workers during the election time, now forget the labour class and stand by the capitalists on being elected.
“We are not demanding for the money from the elected representatives’ pockets. We are demanding for our hard earned money which rightfully belongs to us,” she said.
In their protest the beedi workers demanded provident fund for beedi workers, scholarship to the children of beedi workers till 8th standard, steps to bring all beedi workers under BPL category, stop contract and sub-contract system, provide 6 days of guaranteed job for beedi workers in a week, provide log book and ID card for beedi workers, provide 35 kg rice at Rs 2 per kg for all the beedi workers families and other such aspect to help uplift the Laborers community.
The beedi workers took out a protest march from Town Hall to DC’s office before the public meet.
