Headload workers at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yards took out a protest march and staged a demonstration here on Tuesday demanding fulfilment of their long pending demands.
The workers staged a protest under the aegis of APMC Hamali Karmikara Sangha and then marched to the tahsildar’s office at mini Vidhana Soudha before submitting a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister.
Leading the protest, office-bearers of the organisation Mahesh Pattar, Gurusiddappa Ambiger, and Basavanneppa Neeralagi said although the ‘hamalis’ (headload workers) contributed a great deal to business of foodgrains, they did not get minimum benefits.
Mr. Pattar said there were around four to five lakh headload workers across the State in various markets, who did not have any social security. Despite repeated memoranda, their demands had not been met, he said.
In the memorandum submitted to the tahsildar’s office, the workers have demanded immediate issue of smart cards and introduction of pension scheme as announced in the previous budget.
Immediate allocation of ₹100 crore and promulgation of the Act for welfare of workers of unorganised sector, a one-time retirement relief of ₹50,000 to headload workers above the age of 60, scholarships to children of headload workers pursuing various degrees, and housing scheme are some of their demands. In the memorandum, the workers have also demanded strict implementation of labour laws to ensure various benefits to the workers.