Pics: Spoorthi Ullal / Steevan Colaco
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (JS/HB)

Mangaluru, Oct 8: Hundreds of people led by Jaya Karnataka held a massive vehicle rally from Udupi to Mangaluru in protest against Mescom on Thursday October 8. After reaching Mangaluru, they submitted a memorandum with a list of their demands at Mescom managing director's office near AB Shetty circle here.

The protestors said that 209 people had been working as gangmen for Mescom since from many years, but now Mescom has recruited new gangmen, of whom 95 percent are from Bijapur, Bagalkot and Haveri districts. The gangmen who have been working on contract basis along with Jaya Karnataka submitted their memorandom to the managing director of Mescom demanding selection of gangmen to probationary posts or to hire them as permanent workers.

Addressing the gathering, Divakar Shetty, district president of Jaya Karnataka said, "Today we have come here all the way from Udupi with this vehicle rally to demand justice for gangmen who have been working on contract basis from past 6 years and more, and who now feel cheated. They have been working with the expectation that they would be made permanent some day. But Mescom has brought a new rule that gangmen should have at least completed SSLC. On this basis they have recruited new gangmen from other districts in North Karnataka. What about these people who have worked for so long? What will they do if they are removed from their jobs? Jaya Karnataka condems this act by Mescom and demands justice to these gangmen. We request the Mescom officials to consider the exprience of these gangmen and make them permanent in available posts."

Nanda Kumar, district honorary president of Jaya Karnataka said, "When these gangmen were recruited on contract basis they were told that they would have to do work such as installation of poles, wiring and maintenance. They have been doing their job sincerely from the past 6 years. It is not fair to recruit new gangmen from North Karnataka. There are enough provisions in the Companies Act to make these people permanent, as they worked for so long. Their experience should be considered equivalent to education. Locals should be given importance and made permanent. If this is not done, we will protest in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru."

Managing director of Mescom recieved the memorandum and promised that he would look into the matter.

B Sudhakar Rao, Nithyananda Amin, Karunakar Poojary, Annappa Kulal and other leaders of Jaya Karnataka were present.

Earlier in the day, the vehicle rally was flagged off by Vidyavallabhateerta Swamiji of Paryaya Kaniyoor Math, Udupi.

Addressing the protestors, the Swamiji said, "Many people are working in Mescom. They have lots of experience in their field. But now Mescom is recruiting new people in the place of old workers. It is really an injustice to the existing workers as it takes away their daily bread. The workers should not face financial problems. Recruiting new candidates instead of taking the available skilled workers is a matter which should be condemned. Government has to take necessary measures in this regard."

Swamiji urged the government to address the grievances of deprived workers immediately.

The members of Jaya Karnataka demanded to make the jobs of present gangmen permanent in Udupi Mescom by either recruiting them as junior trainers or by taking them in probationary posts. According to the workload norms the available additional posts are 1,586 out of which 450 posts are for junior trainers. 

Udupi District president of Jaya Karnataka Janani Divakar Shetty, advisor Sudhakar Rao, district secretary Nityananda Amin, Srinivas Shettigar, Rangankere and others were present at the protest rally in Udupi.