Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Apr 29: Sixteen labourers from Shikaripura, the native place of chief minister B S Yediyurappa, including a family of seven are stuck at Talapady, border of Karnataka and Kerala states since 30 days. Among them is a woman who is pregnant. They do not get three meals a day. All of them are requesting the district administration to allow them to reach their native place.

The contingent includes Muralidhar Naik, a resident of Shikaripura, his wife and three daughters. Out of them his daughter Kalavati is pregnant. Her husband Sanjeeve and other 10 labourers are residing at present in Mariyashrama school of Talapady.

These labourers used to do daily wage work at Manjeshwar of Kerala. After the announcement of lock down all of them walked all the way from Manjeshwar in order to reach their native place of Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. However, they were stopped at Talapady by police. Even the pregnant lady walked for 20 km in hot sun.

Though locals are providing meals to these people, they are not used to the kind of meal that is being served by people of Mangaluru.

The family has threatened the local MLA as well as the chief minister of committing suicide, if arrangement is not done by evening of Monday to take them to their native place. Pregnant Kalvati says, "In our native place there is no work. We have taken loan for agriculture. I have two sisters of marriageable age. I am pregnant. We do not have a single penny with us. Many months have passed without checking my health. If we are sent to our native place, we will live our life by doing agriculture. If we are not sent to our native place by today evening, we will kill ourselves by consuming poison."

When the family contacted B Y Raghavendra, son of CM B S Yediyurappa, he asked them to wait till May 3 and then they will make arrangement to take them to Shikaripura. Husband of pregnant Kalavati says, "We are living in the school since 30 days. We have tried to contact the officials with the help of locals. But we are pained due to the lacklustre attitude of the administration. I cannot see my pregnant wife's health getting spoilt in front of my own eyes. We cannot wait till May 3. Arrangement needs to be done to take us to our native place by today evening."

Health officer is reportedly not to be seen. Tahsildar is also not receiving the phone. When Siddique of Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike, who is responding to the difficulties of these labourers contacted Talapady health office Wilma, she promised to help them by Tuesday. However, from Sunday, she is also reportedly not picking up the phone, it is gathered.