Pics by Hemanat Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 15: The bidi workers under the Udupi branch of Bharat Beedi Works Ltd started an indefinite agitation at around 11 am on Saturday November 15, in front of the local branch of Bharath Beedi Works. Hundreds of women bidi workers raised slogans against the management and mobbed the said office. Many entered the office and occupied spaces there, refusing to budge unless their demand is met.

The agitators, led by the Udupi District Beedi Workers Federation, are demanding for the immediate payment of the arrears of dearness allowance amounting to Rs 4,500. The workers claim, that all the bidi companies have complied with the tri-partite agreement entered into under the Karnataka Beedi Workers Payment of Minimum Wages Act, under which the above payment was to be made, and  paid the above amount to their workers immediately. They also claim, that when approached with the request for the said payment, the local management of Bharath Beedi Works is not giving any specific reply or assurance. They allege, that the local branch office is following delaying tactics on this issue.

The agitating workers say, that they would continue with their protest till they receive payment of the dearness allowance arrears.

CPI (M) leaders Vishwanath Rai, Ramesh Mendon, Mahabal Voderhobli, Sadhu Amin, Dogu Suvarna, Balkis Banu, Baby Shetty, Rajeevi Majoor etc., are spearheading the protest programme.