DEMANDING WAGES: Daily-wage workers in the Forest Department staging a demonstration outside the office of the Conservator of Forests in Gulbarga on Wednesday demanding payment of minimum wages as fixed by the Government.

GULBARGA: The monthly-rated daily-wage workers employed in the Forest Department, who were on an indefinite dharna and relay hunger strike in front of the officer of the Conservator of Forests here demanding the payment of minimum wages fixed by the Government, withdrew their 17-day-long stir on Wednesday following an assurance by the Deputy Conservator of Forests V. Radhadevi that their demands would be fulfilled within a month.

The daily-wage workers, under the banner of the Karnataka State SC and ST Government and Semi Government Daily Wageworkers Association, on Wednesday staged a demonstration in front of the main gate of the office of the Conservator of Forests demanding the implementation of the Government notification for the payment of minimum wages to 171 monthly-rated daily-wage workers employed in the Forest Department in Gulbarga district.

Representatives of the association held a detailed discussion with senior officials of the Forest Department, including Ms. Radhadevi, and urged them to implement the notification that had been issued by the Government long ago. Ms. Radhadevi, who gave them a patient hearing, said she would make all efforts to implement the notification after getting the required financial grant for the payment of the extra wages to the 171 daily-wage workers.

She pointed out that in order to implement the notification, the district would require another Rs. 79.44 lakh every year at the rate of Rs. 127.28 a day. The Forest Department had already written a detailed letter to the Government in this regard, seeking additional funds.

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