Karnataka - Belgaum   

Vedike criticised for `trying to divide workers'

Staff Correspondent

Campaign linking it with vimochana ranga termed baseless

Belgaum: The Kayakajeevi Coolie Nekarara Sangha has criticised the Belgaum Nekarara Vedike for "trying to create a division among workers who are uniting to fight for their rights."

Referring to reports in a section of the press, the sangha has termed baseless a campaign linking it with the Karnataka Vimochana Ranga.

Meanwhile, more workers have joined the strike, affecting two units at Sapargalli and another at Bharatnagar. The agitation by workers of the two units under the banner of the sangha entered the fifth day on Saturday. According to sangha president Baswaraj Bankar, acting president Bhimmann Kanade and workers' leader Maruti Dhagennavar, the vedike, apparently representing the proprietors of powerloom units, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Thursday alleging that the sangha emerged out of KVR. But the fact is that the sangh is an independent organisation fighting for the rights of workers. Members of the sangh are workers, many of whom are also members of political parties. Sangha workers told The Hindu on Saturday that the vedike represents proprietors of powerloom units. In fact, the vedike is being exploited by leaders of the industry who are using it as their "mouthpiece."

Substantiating their observations, they referred to the vedike leaders who have been pleading with the State Government to extend subsidy on power tariff to units having more than 10 HP power connections. While announcing a special package for weavers early this financial year, the Government reduced the power tariff from Rs. 3.30 per unit to Rs. 1.25 per unit for units having connections less than 10 HP. The vedike leaders said the relief has helped at least 85 per cent of weavers. Yet, it is pleading with the Government to extend the benefit to the units having more than 10 HP connections. When the vedike made a plea at a meeting with district in-charge Minister Prakash B. Hukkeri last month, no unit owner was present.

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