DANGER POINT: A poster put up by the police near Kargil lake in Sircilla town where the highest number of suicides were recorded. — Photo: R. Raju

SIRCILLA: Widows of weavers of Sircilla town, who are up in arms against the State Government for not providing them with compensation, as announced earlier, have decided to besiege the house of Minister for Labour G. Vinod Kumar in Hyderabad on Wednesday morning demanding compensation to all the widows.

Under the aegis of CPI-M Sircilla unit, the widows have already started proceeding to Hyderabad on Tuesday evening to participate in an agitational programme. It may be recalled that they had launched a relay hunger strike in Sircilla town in November 2006.

The Minister had then and persuaded them to call it off assuring all assistance.

Later in the month of February this year, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 each under the Chief Minister's relief fund to the bereaved families of powerloom weavers, who had committed suicide in Sircilla town during 1997 and 2004.

The widows have refused to accept the relief amount and appealed to the Collector to pay them a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each. Sircilla town CPI-M secretary and Powerloom Workers Association leader Pantham Ravi told The Hindu that they would demand compensation or at least Rs. 50,000 from the Chief Minister's relief fund.

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