Mangalore: Beedi Workers demand restoration of scholarship to their children

By John V. Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 27 July 2012: AITUC sponsored S.K. Bidi Workers Federation took out a procession to the office of Deputy Commissioner on Thursday, July 26, 2012 and attempted to enter it forcibly to demand the restoration of the Bidi Scholarships to their Children which they said that have not been paid since the last three years.

The police had made preparations to meet the eventualities. As the agitation became quite restless and was about to go out of control, the police swung into action and herded the protestors in three vans.

 

The President of S.K. Bidi Workers Federation, P Sanjiva addressing the huge gathering said that as the children of bidi workers used to get scholarships through schools, they could provide education to their children. Further he said that the government later decided to remit the bidi scholarship money to bank accounts. This step of the government created confusion as neither the school management, bidi workers’ union nor the parents have not been aware of the money being credited to their accounts.

P. Sanjiva also claimed that bidi workers have been contributing the money to welfare fund thinking that they would get scholarship to their school going children. He demanded that the government’s decision  to withdraw the bidi scholarship money for children from 1st to 8th standard should be reversed and the arrears accrued for the last three years should be paid. Further he demanded that a sub-office of Bidi Workers’ Welfare Department should be opened in Mangalore.