Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, May 31: Beedi labourers, under the aegis of PF issues protest committee, conducted a protest in front of the Provident Fund (PF) office in the city condemning the rule of applying only online to get PF fund and pension. They urged the administration to revert to the old method of accepting handwritten applications for the same.

The protesters urged the concerned authorities to allow correction of PF records as per Aadhar card and to also stop harassing the labourers mentally by asking for documents which they do not have.

B M Bhat, president of the PF issue protest committee said that the beedi labourers of rural area who roll beedies for their livelihood have come to stage where they are unable to get the PF and pension fund because of the new law of the PF administration.

Radhakrishna Sarapadi, secretary of the committee, Ravindra Poojary, president of state beedi contractors' association, Krishna Rai, president of coastal beedi contractors' association, Eshwari and Jayarama took part in the protest.