Tension prevailed at State Labour Minister K. Atchannaidu’s camp office here on Monday with the CITU staging a massive protest demanding establishment of an ESI hospital at Pydibhimavaram, headquarters for industrial zone in the district.
The police arrested several CITU leaders, including D. Govinda Rao, G.Tirupati Rao and Tejeswara Rao, when they tried to squat before the camp office.
Earlier, the workers’ union organised a rally from Srikakulam MRO office to Minister’s office where the workers had a tussle with the police personnel.
CITU has been demanding establishment of ESI hospital in the district as over 25,000 workers are paying around Rs.1.75 lakh every year for medical insurance benefit.
The leaders said many workers, who met with accidents, were dying while being shifted to ESI hospital in Visakhapatnam. They also sought ESI dispensaries at Amadalavalasa, Tekkali and other areas.
