'Central move reason for rise in poverty in nation'

Many take part in Karnataka State Beedi Workers Federation meet

The Central government has opened the doors for global markets. This has increased poverty in the nation, said All India Beedi Workers Federation Chief Secretary Mohammed Nizamuddin after inaugurating the 8th State Convention of Karnataka State Beedi Workers Federation (CITU) at Town Hall in Mangalore on Wednesday.

The nation is under finacial crisis only beacuse of the capatalists. The beedi workers sector is also affected with this. Atrocities on the labourers is increasing, there is a need to fight against this, he said.

The Wall Street protest shook entire America. Indian labourers should take the example and organise huge protests, he said and added that 185 nations in the world are protesting against atrocities on labourers.

According to the report by Arjun Sen Gupta committee, the daily wage of 77 per cent of people in India is Rs 20. With inflation, the prices of commodities are on rise. The labourer cannot manage to get basic necessities. He is going poor day by day, he said.

The protest of beedi workers is high in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. In West Bengal, the atrocities on working class by the current Trinamool Congress is increasing everyday.

After the Assembly elections, 64 people have been killed and more than 40,000 people are being driven out of their houses. The government is collecting crores of rupees by penalising the poor, he said.

The All India Beedie Workers’ Federation meet will be held at Kanyakumari on May 11. The challenges faced by the beedi workers and protests to be organised to get their rights will be discussed here. 

“One should protest for a corruption-free society. As the beedi workers are distributed in different places, they face atrocities from the owners. There is a need to strenghthen the 90 lakh beedi federations in India,” he said and added that the Central Government should organise an advisory committee meet regarding the challenges met by the beedi workers.

“Majority of the women in Uttar Kannada are daily-wage labourers. Due to the ‘Zamindari’ (landord) system, many could not pursue their education. These women manage their household responsibilities as well as earn income by rolling beedis,” said Janavadhi Mahila Sangatanay Karnataka State Committee Vice President Neela K.

“Beedi workers suffer with health problems such as Asthama, Tuberculosis, Cough, joint pain, back pain and others. However, they do not have money to take treatment as most of their money goes to manage their house. 

These women slog entire day as they have deadlines. They don’t have time to take a break. The government has one rule for rich and another for poor. The Foreign Direct Investments in India is incresing and so are the atrocities on the working women.

“The ruling party belives that their opinion is the people’s opinon. Agriculture is decreasing as all have entered into the money making mentality. Today there is a need to spread awareness among the labourers,” she said.

“The beedi firm owners should forget their internal competition and should think about their labourers,” stressed CITU State Committe Chief Secretary S Prasanna Kumar. Karnataka State Beedi Workers Federation President B Madhava presided over the programme.