Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051010640400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Gritty farm workers have their way

Staff Reporter

FIRM RESOLVE: Members of the All-India Agricultural Workers' Union, State committee, who took out a rally, blocked the stretch between Nehru Circle and Subedar Chatram Road in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: Hundreds of agricultural workers, led by the All-India Agricultural Workers' Union affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday extracted an assurance from Labour and Minority Affairs Minister Iqbal Ansari that the State Government would decide on launching a welfare programme for the unorganised labour in the agricultural sector.

The workers from Kolar and Mandya districts, who came in a procession, were upset over the rejection of their demand to meet Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at his home office on Kumara Krupa Road and proceeded towards Jakkarayanakere on Platform Road. They blocked the road between Nehru Circle and Subedar Chatram Road, affecting vehicular traffic.

Covering their heads with towels and saris and sitting on the hot cement stretch, men and women listened to their leaders in rapt attention, unmindful of the scorching sun for over two hours.

President of the union Nityananda Swamy said that the road blockade would not be lifted until the Chief Minister or his representative came and received their memorandum.

Mr. Ansari, on orders from the Chief Minister, who was away in Dharmasthala, rushed to the spot and announced that the Government would take a decision on launching a programme for the welfare of the unorganised labour in the agricultural sector evoking applause from the protestors. Referring to the 18-point charter of demands presented to him by Mr. Swamy, State general secretary of CPI (M) G.N. Nagaraj and G.V. Srirama Reddy, MLA, the Minister agreed that many of them were relevant. Being the Labour Minister, he said that it would not be difficult for him to implement the demand for fixing a minimum wage of Rs.100 for agricultural workers. On the delay in implementing the demands already agreed to by the Chief Minister, Mr. Ansari said that he would convey their demands to him. He said that the Government had amended the law making MLAs as chairpersons of the Ashraya committees to help in the distribution of sites. The power given to the village panchayats in this regard had been withdrawn following allegations of nepotism and corruption, he added.

G.V. Byra Reddy, general secretary of the sangha, alleged that land grabbers had in their possession 31,000 acres of government land and that it should re-distributed among poor farmers.