Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 1: The members of All India Agricultural Workers' Union, Karnataka region, under the banner of CITU held a day and night dharna on Monday September 30 in front of taluk office here demanding house sites for shelterless people.

Though the labourers had submitted their applications to the tahsildar office through the local panchayat, there was no response. Hence they went on indefinite dharna.

As many as 400 applications from Hattiangady gram panchayat, 564 applications from Tallur gram panchayat, 272 from Kavradi gram panchayat, 480 from Karkunje gram panchayat, 301 from Hakladi gram panchayat and 387 from Gujjadi gram panchayat have been forwarded for further course of action. 

The applications from Basrur, Hemmadi, Koteshwara, Kundapur town, Alur, Amparu, Beejadi, Nada, Navunda, Kandavara, Koni, Hangaluru, Anagalli and Balkur are pending in the office of the village accountant.  The protesters demanded urgent action in respect of the applications.

Hundreds of shelterless people shouted slogans demanding houses and sites.  President of Agricultural Workers' Union addressed the protesters and warned that they will intensify their protest if their demands are not met. Union leaders Rajiv Padukone, Venkatesh Koni, K Shankera, Mahabala Vaderahobali and H Narasimha were present.

Most of the protesters were women. They did not move even when it rained.  Protesters who had come from various places in the taluk were spread in the area of the taluk office.