Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112758000300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Firm pays compensation to employee’s family

Staff Correspondent

Workers to intensity their agitation
Their demands include hike
in salary

MYSORE: The last rites of Wipro Lighting Industry (WLI) employee Hanumantha Shetty, who committed suicide on Monday, were performed at Kallurahalli village in Yelwala hobli on Tuesday. Workers of WLI and family members agreed for cremation only after police officials handed over a cheque for Rs. 3 lakh issued by the company as compensation.

Workers were agitated because the officials from the company did not visit the family of Shetty. But the Wipro management expressed its condolences to the family of Shetty and said that it was extending all support to the authorities, who were investigating the case.

Workers of the Mysore unit of WLI have been agitating since October 27 in support of their demands. Meanwhile, workers have decided to intensify their agitation if their demands are not fulfilled at the earliest.

Sathyanarayana, Chamundeshwari MLA, recently promised to take up the issue with the Minister for Labour.

According to the leaders of the Mysore Division Industrial Workers’ General Union, which is spearheading the agitation, the workers are frustrated as the agitation is continuing.

“Neither the elected representatives nor the Labour authorities are bothered to help resolve the issue,” said president of the union H.R. Sheshadri.

Shetty’s brother Lokesha said that Shetty had to take care of a family of 12 members. He was forced to look for a job two decades ago.

The family had only one acre and 20 guntas of dry land. The family depended on the paltry income of his brother who was working at Metal Lamps Factory (MLF). When MLF was closed for three years,

Shetty had to work as a daily wage worker. When Wipro took over MLF he was reconsidered for his job.

“My brother got frustrated with the continuing agitation and he consumed poison. His salary of Rs. 3,000 a month was the main source of income to the family,” he said.

Mr. Sheshadri said that the workers wanted an increase of Rs. 5,000 in their salary, but the management was ready to offer only Rs. 1,000.

The workers were prepared for a negotiated settlement, he said.