Karanataka Beedi workers protest against UPA governments policies

Karnataka State Beedi Workers Federation affiliated to CITU lead protest against the Union government’s decision to withdraw the scholarship given to children of beedi workers.

Scores of beedi workers from 12 districts across the State staged a protest in Bangalore on Tuesday under the banner of the Karnataka State Beedi Workers Federation opposing the Union government’s decision to withdraw the scholarship given to children of beedi workers studying between classes 1 and 8. 

The Centre last year decided to remove beedi workers from the list of beneficiaries of the scholarships in the light of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. 

Syed Mujeeb, State general secretary of the federation, pointed out that the scholarship had made it possible for lakhs of beedi workers to send their children to school. “The scholarship is extremely essential for us and was used as a medium to uplift the families of beedi workers. Most beedi workers come from low economic backgrounds and are unable to bear the cost of education. Children of beedi workers will be unable to go to school as the workers will be unable to bear the cost.” 

Criticising the government’s decision to withdraw the scholarships, Mr. Mujeeb emphasised that the fund for the scholarships was raised by the beedi manufacturers. “The government is not spending a single amount on this scholarship. The entire amount is paid as welfare cess by the beedi producers. The government is only acting as an intermediary.”

Apart from this, the federation has demanded strict enforcement of labour laws and has demanded that a minimum of Rs. 200 be provided for rolling 1,000 beedis. They have also demanded a minimum pension of Rs. 3,000 besides insisting that all beedi workers be given identity cards and BPL cards.

CPI(M) protest against ‘pankti bheda’ in Karnataka

Demanding the State government to ban Made Snana and ‘Pankthi bedha’ (discrimination in serving food) practiced in Udupi Krishna Mutt and other temples, and fulfilment of various other demands, CPIM  staged a protest across Karnataka.

 

Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a demonstration in front of the Mini-Vidhana Soudha in Hubli. The protest was in response to the call given by the CPI(M) for a State-wide protest against caste discrimination. ‘Pankti bheda’ refers to the discrimination between castes during meals.

The protestors raised slogans against ‘pankti bheda’ and ‘made snana’, which involves devotees rolling over plantain leaves containing leftovers of the lunch served to Brahmins. CPI(M) district secretary B.S. Soppin urged the government to abolish such practices.

Mr. Soppin stressed the need for providing reservation for Dalits in the private sector and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to allocate funds for Dalits based on population.

Dalit Hakkugala Horata Samiti convener Durgappa Chikkatumbala, members Gurusiddappa Ambiger, Hanumanthapap Jalagar and Nagamma Hiremani took part and handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the additional tahsildar.

The memorandum sought increased scholarships for Dalit students and food allowances for SC/ST hostels, reservation in outsourcing works, provision of two acres of land to landless Dalits, increase in the compensation package to devadasis from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1 lakh, and the withdrawal of cases against activists who protested at Udupi.

Mangalore

Addressing the protesters, CPM leader Vasanth Achary said that Pejawar seer holds padayatra with Dalits in Dalit colonies. However, discrimination is practiced in Udupi Krishna Mutt while serving meals.

About 168 temples coming under the jurisdiction of Endowment Department have been practicing inhuman practices across the State. The government should initiate measures to stop these practices and withdraw cases filed against all those protesters who had protested against discrimination, in Udupi.

He said the State government should chalk out a law on the model of Andhra Pradesh to implement SC/ST Component Plan and Tribes Sub Plan. The funds earmarked for the welfare of SC/ST should not be lapsed and the budget should set aside funds on the basis of population of SC/STs in the State.

Dalits constitute about 23.65 per cent of the population in the State. Hence, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should set aside 23.65 per cent of funds under component plan for the welfare of the SC/STs.

The government should release funds for the development of Dalit colonies in the State and civic workers should not be forced to get into manhole to take up cleaning work. The minimum salary of civic workers should be increased to Rs 12,000 per month, to improve their standard of living.

CPIM City Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said that there was a need to strengthen social welfare department to check injustice on Dalits.

Reservation in government sector should be extended to private sector as well.

All those poor Dalits who do not have a roof over their head should be given sites and houses under various housing schemes of the government. Dalit families who do not possess land should be given minimum two acre land, to eke out their living. The scholarship amount given for SC/ST students should be hiked and food allowance for hostel students should be increased in the wake of rise in price of essential commodities.

The protesters urged Chief Minister to include their demands in the budget which will be presented by him on July 12. A memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner on the occasion.

DYFI District President Muneer Katipalla, Dalit Rights Committee secretary Lingappa Nanthoor and others were present.

 

Gulbarga

Activists of the CPI (M) staged a demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Gulbarga criticising the maths for practising untouchability in the name of religion. The State government should intervene and put an end to these practices.

Coming down heavily on the Pejawar Math Swami, the party leaders said that while the seer had gone on padayatras in the Dalit colonies purportedly to end untouchability, he had done little to stop the practice of ‘made snana’ and ‘pankti bheda’ in maths.

Demanding the State government to ban Made Snana and ‘Pankthi bedha’ (discrimination in serving food) practiced in Udupi Krishna Mutt and other temples, and fulfilment of various other demands, CPM and Dalit Rights Committee staged a protest in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday.
(Source : The Hindu)

ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF ANGANWADI WORKERS AND HELPERS(AIFAWH) observes Black Day

Tamil Nadu

 

Karnataka

Delhi

6 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers observe “Black Day” against Privatisation of ICDS and recognition as workers, minimum wage and pension on 10 July 2013

All India federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) congratulates anganwadi workers and helpers all over the country for the magnificent success of the observance of “black day” on 10th July 2013.

Nearly six lakh anganwadi workers from states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal - observed “black day” on 10 July 2013 at the call of AIFAWH. In Kerala, due to the hartal in the state today against the state government the protest will be held on 19th July 2013. In Uttarakhand due to the involvement of the union in the relief works, only a memorandum was submitted. In Andhra Pradesh the state anganwadi union is also on three days strike on 8,9 and 10 July. Hundreds and thousands of anganwadi workers and helpers wearing black dress, holding black banners, flags etc hold demonstrations, dharnas, rallies etc at project, district and state head quarters in different states. In various states the government had tried to prevent the anganwadi workers and helpers from participating in the struggle, by issuing notices, denying police permissions etc.

In Delhi more anganwadi workers and helpers held a dharna near ITO, New Delhi. Tapan Sen MP, General Secretary CITU inaugurated. A R Sindhu, Secretary CITU and General Secretary AIFAWH, K Hemalata, Secretary CITU, Ranjana Nirula treasurer CITU and convenor ASHA workers co ordination committee, Kamala, General Secretary Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and helpers Union, M L Malkotia General Secretary State CITU addressed the gathering.

AIFAWH has given a call to observe 10 July, the anganwadi demands day as “black day” against the government’s proposals for move to dismantle the ICDS through privatisation of pre-school education and compulsory handing over to NGOs and corporates, opposition of the Ministry of women and Child Development to the recommendations of the 45th Indian Labour Conference, recognizing the scheme workers (including the anganwadi workers and helpers) as workers, paying them minimum wages and pension and freedom of association.

The Ministry of WCD, whose Minister Smt. Krishna Tirath, who recently appeared in News Headlines for declaring a proposal for “recognizing the women’s house work by paying salary to housewives”, when it came to their turn of recognizing the women’s unpaid labour in these government schemes, in a most shameful manner opposed the ILC recommendations.

AIFAWH demands that the government must stop any move to privatise the ICDS and immediately implement the recommendations of the 45th ILC on scheme workers and must come forward and talk to the trade union federations of anganwadi employees on their demands and issues as in a democracy.