Governor Rameshwar Thakur has agreed to distribute BPL cards to around 2 lakh estate labourers and steps will be taken in this direction soon, said former minister D B Chandregowda.
Speaking at a press meet organised at the guest house, he said a delegation of labour leaders had met the Governor and submitted a memorandum, wherein the Governor assured to look into the issue and take necessary steps.
During the Congress rule, estate labourers were distributed green cards instead of BPL cards to supply 28 kg rice, 8 litre kerosene and 7 kg wheat. However, the supply has been cancelled by the coalition government, he criticised.
The yardstick of annual income of Rs 12,000 does not hold good for estate workers. Work is available only for two or three days a week. Workers who look after four to five members in the family are in pitiable condition, he said.
In an attempt to reduce ration cards upto 65 per cent, the estate workers have been meted out injustice. Unit system has been brought into force and those below poverty line are being supplied only 4 kg rice and 1 litre kerosene, which cannot be justified. The Governor has been requested to review the ration card issue.
The roads are filled with potholes and have become unmotorable. Officials have been requested to fill the potholes immediately. The issue related to Suragunda bridge construction work near Jayapura was raised again, which had a positive response, he explained.
Mines don Janardhan Reddy has promised to give three helicopters, Rs 50 lakh cash and a car to three BJP candidates, he said and added that the money obtained from looting the government treasury is being used by BJP for elections.
The ore lorries passing through Charmady and Shirady are damaging the roads. The mines business which is causing damage to roads in the State must be immediately stopped, he demanded. Though 100 days have passed since the election to town panchayats, the elected representatives have not been handed over power.
This is akin to strangling democracy, he said adding that the town panchayat is totally corrupt wherein Rs 20,000 bribe is accepted to change posts. The coalition government has not taken up even a single pro-people project.
It has not constructed a single house and has not issued title deed to a single person.
If BJP MLAs owned 6 acres of land 20 months ago, now they own assets to the tune of Rs 38 crore, he alleged.
The public has to question as to where this money came from.
He said he had given up his post in favour of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and if necessary, he could have any post he liked again. Booth-level committees are being constituted and the candidate they choose will be fielded for the Vidhan Sabha elections, he informed.
Labour leader P P S Mani, Kamalnathan, Muniyandi, Ramachandra Wodeyar, Subrahmanya, block Congress president A S Nagesh, vice-president Shashikumar and ZP member Satish were present.
