Belgaum: The Kayakajeevi Coolie Nekarara Sangha has urged the Government to set up a separate board for the welfare of the workers of weaving industry on the lines of Tamil Nadu Government, announce a special package for weavers (workers) and cover them under the Industrial Disputes Act immediately.

In a memorandum to Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh during his visit to the city recently, sangh president Bhimanna Kanade said the special package extended by the Government did not take into account thousands of workers engaged in the power loom industry and the benefits were meant only for "owners" of the power loom units.

Forum criticised

Without naming the Belgaum Nekarara Vedike, he said the association represented only owners and not workers. The irony with the package is that the owners who are bankers and lend money at 24 per cent per annum are taking loans from the cooperatives at 6 per cent interest.

No share in profit

But the owners are not prepared to share their profits with the workers who are skilled and are employed in manufacturing quality polyester and silk saris having a huge demand in international market. The owners, who are demanding relief from the Government, are not paying even minimum wages.

Wages cut

In the last three years, the wages of workers have been brought down to by 50 per cent but they continue to work for 14 to 16 hours a day. He said the Government should pay attention to the problems of workers whose plight at the hands of exploitative owners, middlemen and private bankers is miserable and pathetic. Many women, who were employed in power loom units, are now working as domestic help.

The sangh urged the Government to implement the minimum wage policy for workers or announce a scientific wage policy provide housing, yellow cards, health, libraries and special scholarships to children of weavers.

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