By Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD)
 
Udupi, May 30: The district Bidi Labourers’ Federation affiliated to CITU began an indefinite stir in front of the taluk office on Tuesday May 29 urging the state administration to implement minimum wages for bidi labourers at the earliest.
 
The protesters cautioned that they would carry on the protest till the state government announces the notification in the budget or till it announces the minimum wages of Rs 116.20 in the gazette.
 

The protesters alleged that the labour department has been following delaying tactics despite the minimum wages revision committee comprising the representatives of bidi owners, labour union representatives, and government representatives forwarding their recommendations to the state government in this regard, thereby causing injustice to 10 lac bidi labourers, by favouring the bidi companies.
 
The district Bidi Labourers Federation chief secretary Ramesh Mendon, Dogu Suvarna, Umesh, Appanna Kelarkalabettu, Raju, Sugandi, Bindu, and Saraswati Uppoor were present on the occasion.