Devanand Jagapur, general secretary of the associations representing autorickshaw drivers and beedi workers, withdrew his indefinite hunger strike here on Sunday.
A press release issued by the Dharwad District Autorickshaw Drivers Association president B.A. Mudhol said that the fast was withdrawn after local MLA Prasad Abbayya promised to consider their demands favourably. Mayor Shivu Hiremath had also visited the protest venue and requested Mr. Jagapur to withdraw the strike, the release said.
The fast was launched outside the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation office here on January 29 seeking allotment of Ashraya houses to autorickshaw drivers and beedi workers.
Mr. Abbayya had promised that eligible beneficiaries would be indentified for the housing scheme and houses would be handed over at the earliest. Nearly 13,000 families have applied for houses under the Ashraya scheme in Hubballi-Dharwad East assembly constituency. Of these applicants, 2,520 people had to be selected. The process was under progress, he added. Mr. Abbayya said that many autorickshaw drivers and beedi workers too had applied for the houses and they would be considered favourably if they were found to be eligible.
