Mangalore: State-level Convention Voices Concern over Plight of Bidi Workers

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, May 8: The 8th state convention of bidi workers organized by Karnataka State Bidi Workers' Federation affiliated to CITU was inaugurated at Town Hall here on Tuesday May 8.

Addressing the gathering, Mohammed Nizamuddin, chief secretary of All-India Bidi Workers' Federation expressed concern over the fact that many of the bidi workers were not under any union and hence easy targets to their owner.

"There are about 90 lac bidi workers in the country, but most of them do not belong to any union. Hence, it has become for for owners to exploit them by not give them their rights like provident fund, minimum daily wage etc," he said, adding that the main aim of the convention was to try and solve the problems afflicting bidi workers.

He further said that ever since globalization took over the country in the last century, the condition of the bidi workers had worsened.

"In 1991 the Narasimha Rao government signed the world trade agreement, after which the poor in the country became poorer and the rich, richer," he said.

"According to the central Arjun Gupta committee, 77 percent of the labourers are not able to spend even Rs 20 a day. Many central unions have demanded that steps be taken to ensure betterment of bidi workers, but the government has turned a blind eye to their demands," he said.

He cited the examples of bidi workers in the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and said that they were fighting for rights in their constructive way.

"Labourers need to be united in their fight against capitalism. Though our fight may be countered by the government, we should not step back," he urged.

Neela K, vice-president of Janavadi women's union, Karnataka state committee, took jibes at the visit of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to Kolkata and said that Clinton had come to Kolkata now that the Left parties were no more in government.

"She did not dare to visit Kolkata when the Left was in power, why has she come now? It is clear that she wants American investment in India which will directly affect the labour class. Such capitalism should be opposed," he said, adding that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had cheated the labourers and that her and Clinton's friendship was an attack on the workers.

She further said that the government has not given enough facilities to the bidi workers. "Many of the bidi workers are suffering from diseases like TB and are not able to have food because of the smell emanating from bidis. There are underaged, unmarried girls employed in bidi rolling because poor families cannot afford the high price of commodities to make ends meet and because of the high expense involved in their getting them married," she said.

President of State Bidi Workers' Federation B Madhava presided.