The State government should extend a relief of Rs. 5,000 each to salt pan workers, who did not get any work during rainy season, M. Krishnamurthy, district coordinator, Unorganised Workers Federation, Thoothukudi, said here on Monday.
Heading the members of the Federation, who staged an attention-seeking demonstration at the Collectorate here, Mr. Krishnamurthy said normally around 50,000 workers were engaged in salt pans spread over 22,000 acres across the district.
Normally, Thoothukudi would receive heavy rainfall during October-November, and the salt pan workers were expecting the government to make a formal announcement in this regard now, Mr. Krishnamurthy said.
The proposed Outer Harbour Development Project would further affect the livelihood of salt pan workers.
