Loaders association takes out protest rally, demand job security

The procession started from the TB up to deputy commissioner’s office. They said the Centre is coming out with a new PDS policy and this would be a death knell for workers of unorganised sectors.

Hundreds of porters are working in Peete Beedhi without any job security despite having been working for more than thirty years. They are not financially sound to avail medical benefits if they took ill. So far, no government has not thought about them.

Subsidy planned

They said the Union government is planning to introduce a new PDS in the country and it is thinking of giving subsidy instead of distribution of essential commodities.

 This would make poor man’s life more miserable. The government should shelve such a scheme.

What they want was a welfare board for porters, health scheme on lines of Yashaswini scheme and ESI and PF facilities for loading and unloading workers.

The Food Corporation of India should give Rs 45 per ton for unloading and Rs 12.50 paise per ton for loading. The services of those working in godowns should be regularised.

Besides, they should be given free sites and financial assistance to build houses. The agitation was led by Chennashetty, Laxman, Puttaswamy, Nagaraj and others.