Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Oct 9: Kotekar circle beedi labour union held a massive rally on Thursday October 8, protesting against the companies not paying the labourers the dearness allowance in the financial year 2015-16 as per the dearness allowance act in force since 1983.

A dearness allowance of Rs 12.75 per 100 beedies and Rs 3.37 bonus attached to it, have not been paid yet. When the labourers have been already suffering due to inflation, non-payment of dues like this has made their lives more miserable. As the government has not repealed the dearness allowance act, the companies have breached the law by not paying the allowance. The companies should pay the arrears of the dearness allowance immediately, the low quality leaves make the beedi rolling a difficult task and as there are no log books kept in the companies, the labourers are derived of their rightful entitlements, said the complaints from the labourers protesting.

Kotekar circle beedi labour union president Padmavathi S Shetty, secretary U Jayanth Naik, Sunder Kumpala, Babu Pilar, Kariappa Gatti, Janardhana K, Narayana Talapady, Vilasini Thokkottu, Baby Kallapu, Harinakhshi Talapady, Srinivasa Ullalabailu, Geetha Pavoor, Jayantha Ullalabailu, Narayana Nalike Talapady, were present among others during the protest.

The procession of the rally which started from Ullal Abbakka circle went up to the Gurukripa industries compound belonging to Ganesh beedies. Later it went to C J beedi and Bharat beedies depots for protest.