The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Fair deal sought for construction workers

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Monday, Sep 29, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Fair deal sought for construction workers

Special Correspondent

‘Bring those with income of Rs. 36,000 p.a. in BPL category’

BANGALORE: Representatives of the Karnataka Construction and Quarry Workers’ Union have urged the State Government to include families with an annual income of up to Rs. 36,000 in the below poverty line (BPL) category.

Ration cards

Speaking at a seminar to mark International Migrating Labourers’ Day here on Sunday, N. Shivanna, secretary, Karnataka Construction and Quarry Workers’ Union, said that many workers had been denied BPL ration cards following an increase in their wages.

However, the increase in prices of essential commodities had affected the works, particularly those in the construction and quarry sectors.

A large number of workers migrated to Bangalore and other cities seeking work and lived in slums.

There was no social security for them and many families had been denied basic facilities such as drinking water and electricity in slums, Mr. Shivanna said.

Hike compensation

H.K. Ramacharappa, president, of the union, urged the Government to increase compensation from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh to the kin of workers who died in accidents while at work.

V.N. Hittagi, Deputy Labour Commissioner of the Labour Department, spoke on various welfare schemes launched by the Government for the benefit of construction and daily wage workers. He said that Rs. 103 crore had been raised for the Construction Labour Welfare Fund. The fund could be utilised for taking up various welfare programmes for workers, he said.

Condemned

H.V. Anantha Subbarao, general secretary, Karnataka Committee of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), condemned the economic policies of the State Government and the Centre. He urged the State Government to increase scholarships to children of workers.

H.S. Veena, advocate, spoke on the problems faced by construction and quarry workers.

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