WORKERS MEET: B. Nagaraj Shetty, disrict in-charge Minister addressing a beedi workers meet in Mangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: An agreement will be signed between company owners, beedi workers and the Government to ensure that beedi workers are provided work six days a week, district in-charge Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating a beedi workers' meet organised jointly by Beedi Karmikara Hitharakshana Vedike and Nagatrika Seva Trust here on Wednesday.

Mr. Shetty said there were over four lakh beedi workers in the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. Unless their welfare was ensured, development of the region was meaningless. Leaders from all parties should overlook political differences and work together for the welfare of beedi workers, he said.

Earlier, Somanath Nayak, president of Nagarika Seva Trust, spoke of the various demands of beedi workers. He said the workers had decided not to stage a protest as the Government had responded to many concerns of workers. But a lot still needed to be done, he said.

Although it had been decided to pay dearness allowance to workers, it had not been paid for the last 18 months. Identity cards had not been issued to all beedi workers yet. Although most companies were paying the preset rate of Rs. 62 for 1,000 beedis rolled and were providing work six days a week, there were some defaulters.

He stressed the need to set up two hospitals in the district for beedi workers. He also said provisions should be made to ensure that wages were increased every year, keeping in view rising prices.

The Minister said land to set up a hospital for beedi workers would be allotted soon. He said he had requested the Government to construct at least 1,000 houses for beedi workers.

These houses would be constructed at a cost of Rs.40, 000 each. Of this amount, the Government would provide Rs.35, 000. The beneficiary would invest the remaining Rs. 5,000, he said.

The Government was also providing special scholarships to children of beedi workers, he added.

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