Sheeja Moodubelle
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
 
Udupi, Jun 4:  Bidi workers of the district extended protest and staged indefinite strike at Ambagilu junction under the leadership and banner of CITU, urging the government to set right their grievances on Monday June 4.

Bidi Karmikara Sangha (affiliated to CITU) demanded minimum wages to be fixed for bidi workers. Two years back sub-committee of the Karnataka labour department agreed to increase the minimum wages of bidi workers from Rs 93.24 for every 1,000 bidis rolled to Rs 116.20. But practically nothing happened. The union wants the government to execute the above demands.

The union decided to be take procession from Ambagilu Junction to MLA Ragupathi Bhat’s house to hand over the memorandum. But MLA Bhat himself came to the protest place and received the memorandum. He also promised them to do the needful.

Mahabala Vadera Hobli (president of BKS) said that the protest would continue if their demands are not fulfilled. Ramesh Mendon, Dhogu Suvarna (member of BKS), Vittala Poojari, Gulabi Kundapura, Saroja Shetty, Sugandhi, and Saraswathy Uppoor led the protest.