Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Jan 4: A protest was held under the aegis of SK Beedi Workers' Federation, in front of the Provident Fund (PF) office here in the city on Thursday January 3 condemning the central government rule of applying for PF online.

Speaking on the occasion, Seetharam Berinja, chief secretary of the federation, said, "The labour ministry of the central government has informed that in order to get the Provident Fund after service or in advance one has to apply only online. Due to this rule, labourers of the unorganized sector including beedi workers will be in trouble."

"Most of the PF members, who are registered through the PF offices of Mangaluru and Udupi, are beedi workers. More than 80% of these are illiterate and cannot make use of technology. There is difference in the details of a worker with regards to his name, age, address etc in the Aadhard card, bank passbook, the company for which they work and the PF office. Hence, it is not possible to apply online," said Seetharam, expressing his opinion on the issue.

Further urging the authorities the protesters said, "Relaxation needs to be given to the labourers of the unorganized sector from this rule of online application. The date of birth mentioned on the Transfer Certificate (TC) of school should be made authentic and the same should be considered as proof of date of birth. The applications have to be sorted out fast. The order of applying for PF only online should be dropped."

V Kukyan, secretary, CPI, DK and Udupi district committee, K V Bhat, president of AITUC, DK and Udupi districts, B Shekhar Bantwal, joint secretary of CPI, DK and Udupi districts, Shanta Nayak, president of Beedi Labour Union, Shashikala Girish, joint secretary and joint secretaries of the federation Suresh Kumar Bantwal and M Karunakar were present during the protest.

A protest march was taken from the union office at Maruti Veethika to the PF office. Later, an appeal containing various demands of the protesters, addressed to the central labour minister and PF commissioner was submitted through the assistant PF commissioner of Udupi.