Beedie workers protest against government’s move to stop scholarships

Beedie workers protest against government’s move to stop scholarships

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 26, 2012: The Karnataka State Beedi Workers’ Federation organized an intense protest on July 26, in front of the DC’s office, against the state government’s move to stop scholarships to beedie workers’ children studying in Standards I to VIII. 

Delivering the protest address, South Kanara Beedi Workers’ Federation President P. Sanjeeva said that the central government decided to stop scholarships given to children of beedie workers, stating that the children can get free education under RTE Act. Stating that the government was giving scholarships from the fund created by collecting welfare cess from beedie workers, who were compulsorily required to contribute Rs. 6 for every 1000 beedies rolled to the Labour Welfare Organization, he said that the government has no right to stop scholarships even if the RTE provides free education. 

 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Treasurer B. Shekar said that the Beedie Workers’ Welfare Fund Act of 1976 provides annual scholarships for children of beedie workers, but the Labour Commission has stopped giving these scholarships because of the RTE Act.

He pointed out that, although education in government schools is free and private education is subsidized, parents will have to pay for expenses such as travel, books, stationery, and so on. Moreover, the government was paying this scholarship from taxes paid by beedie workers. 

The protestors also demanded uniform minimum wage, ID cards, BPL cards, financial assistance to construct houses, provident fund, and health facilities for beedie workers.

A jail bharo program also formed part of the protest.