<p>They warned that they would boycott the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections if their demands were not fulfilled before January 15. <br /><br />Labourers working in Kerehaklu, Balekhan, New Estate and Koove urged the authorities to provide bonus, provident fund and other benefits. Members of the Stree-Shakti organisations including Spoorthi, Maheshwari, Ishwari, Annapoorneshwari, Mariyamma, Chamundeshwari, Vaidyanatheshwari and Dhoomavati demanded that the Alageshwara Tea Factory administrative board should pay the amount due to them at the earliest. <br /><br />Members Jaya Murugesh, Shanthamma and Sunitha led the protest. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Chennappa Gowda, the protesters pointed out that minimum wage was not paid even though labourers were working in the estate for more than nine years. More than 700 labourers are in distress, as the tea factory was damaged in a fire mishap. <br /><br />As there is no factory, tea leaves are being transported to a nearby estate, they explained and urged the district administration to take initiatives to solve the problems. <br />The DC told the protesters that the estate management has agreed to pay the amount due to laborers before January 15.<br /></p>
<p>They warned that they would boycott the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections if their demands were not fulfilled before January 15. <br /><br />Labourers working in Kerehaklu, Balekhan, New Estate and Koove urged the authorities to provide bonus, provident fund and other benefits. Members of the Stree-Shakti organisations including Spoorthi, Maheshwari, Ishwari, Annapoorneshwari, Mariyamma, Chamundeshwari, Vaidyanatheshwari and Dhoomavati demanded that the Alageshwara Tea Factory administrative board should pay the amount due to them at the earliest. <br /><br />Members Jaya Murugesh, Shanthamma and Sunitha led the protest. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Chennappa Gowda, the protesters pointed out that minimum wage was not paid even though labourers were working in the estate for more than nine years. More than 700 labourers are in distress, as the tea factory was damaged in a fire mishap. <br /><br />As there is no factory, tea leaves are being transported to a nearby estate, they explained and urged the district administration to take initiatives to solve the problems. <br />The DC told the protesters that the estate management has agreed to pay the amount due to laborers before January 15.<br /></p>
