‘Govt should waive loans of labourers’

Members of Rajya Samyukta Krishi Karmikara Sanghatane and All India United Trade Union Centre staged a protest demanding fulfilment of various demands in Madikeri on Saturday.

The protesters took out a procession from General Thimayya Circle to Gandhi Maidan and later held a public meeting at Kaveri Kalakshetra.

Addressing the meeting, Rajya Samyukta Krishi Karmikara Sanghatane state General Secretary M Shashidhar said, “The daily wagers are in distress following the devastation caused by the natural calamities in the district. The state government should waive the loans borrowed by labourers working in coffee estates just like the way it had waived the loans borrowed by farmers.”

All India United Trade Union Centre state unit president Umadevi said, “The chief minister has failed to understand the problems faced by the labourers. The state and Central governments have neglected Kodagu district.”

The Centre spent a huge amount of money on the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat, while the state government is planning to install a statue of Cauvery by spending a huge amount of money. Unfortunately, the government is not understanding the woes of the labourers, she alleged.

Asha Workers Association district president Poornima Basappa and others were present.