The Karnataka State Hamali Workers’ Federation, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), staged a demonstration at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard here on Tuesday, demanding residential plots and better facilities for women workers.
“Prices of plots have been skyrocketing and the hamalis are finding it difficult to purchase them. Housing has become a problem for hamalis who have a hand-to-mouth existence. The government should come up with a housing scheme for hamalies working in APMCs across the state,” CITU leader Sharanabasava said.
K.G. Veeresh, another trade union leader, said 1,000 hamalies, including 400 women, working at APMC did not have retiring rooms and toilets.
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“They don’t even get drinking water. The hamalis have repeatedly protested against the unfavourable working conditions in the APMC. The officials have not constructed even separate toilets for women workers,” he alleged.
Federation district president Yenkappa Kengal said, “Our demands are not unreasonable. Providing drinking water, separate toilets and retiring rooms for men and women workers, giving minimum wages as per the law and sanctioning residential sites are some of them. If the government and APMC officials continue to turn a deaf ear, we will have to intensify our struggle,” he warned.
A memorandum was submitted to APMC president Narasanagoudar.
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Naveen, a son of a hamali and a Kannada medium student at Infant Jesus Pre-University College, Raichur who topped II PU in Arts stream obtaining 574 out of 600 marks, was felicitated on the occasion.