Govt apathy angers beedi workers

Hyderabad: Over six lakh poor beedi workers in Telangana are unhappy over the TRS government’s indifferent attitude towards addressing their grievances and long-pending demands. The workers have been demanding implementation of the promise made by Chief Minister KCR during elections that Rs 1000 livelihood assistance would be given to the workers once the party comes into power in the new state.

During the last six months, women workers (constitutes 90 per cent of the total beedi labour force) have been staging dharnas and poured in applications urging the district authorities to sanction the livelihood assistance on the lines of old-age pension. Beedi workers were mainly concentrated in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Medak, Warangal, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts.

Telangana Beedi and Cigar Workers Union general secretary S Rama said the government had not made any financial allocation for the scheme in the 2014-15 budget despite making a promise to that effect. Simmering discontent was brewing among the workers against the government for its apathy towards the welfare of beedi workers.

The workers were also angry over the government for not implementing the GO 41, issued in 2010 fixing the minimum wage of Rs 130 per 1000 beedis plus VDA. Nizamabad MP K Kavitha said the government was concerned more about the wellbeing of the beedi workers. She already brought to the notice of the Chief Minister the long pending demands. A proposal has been prepared to address the problems in a phased manner, she said.