Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, May 28: Bidi workers under the banner of South Canara Bidi Workers Federation, a unit of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) gheraoed deputy speaker Yogish Bhat here on Monday May 28 urging the implementation of minimum wages fixed by the labour department for bidi workers.

The protestors said that though the basic minimum wage had been fixed at Rs 106 for rolling 1,000 bidis a day with a dearness allowance of Rs 10.20, it was not implemented as it was not notified in the state gazette. The protestors also submitted a memorandum to Bhat.
 
There are nearly 4 lac bidi workers in the district and eight lakh workers across the state. It is also to be noted that as the district in-charge minister’s post is vacant ever since MLA Krishna J Palemar resigned, protestors decided to lay siege to Yogish Bhat’s residence.

However, they were stopped by the police and later Yogishe Bhat himself came out to meet them, when he was gheraoed. He received their appeal and assured that the matter will be resolved.
 
President of the South Canara bidi Workers' Federation B Madhava, J Balakrishna Shetty, chief secretary, South Canara Workers Federation of Mangalore, leaders Sunil Kumar Bajal, Vasanth Achari, Jayanth Shetty among others were present.