Bengaluru: A protest will be held in October by mining workers and members of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) to demand for the rehabilitation of the Ballari mining workers.
The Ballari Zilla Gani Karmikara Sangha and the AICCTU’s office-bearers said on Friday October 7 that they will undertake a three-day padayatra from Sandur to Ballari from Tuesday October 11 to Thursday October 13.
The members said that the Government had not provided any support to the mining workers, despite the fact that their work environment had always been poor. They added, “The mining sector in Ballari has also seen widespread violations of the regulations for the benefit of the workers.”
“The rally is being planned to demand Rs. 5 lakh in compensation for mining workers who lost their employment in 2011. Up to five acres of land with irrigation facilities for mining workers’ families, re-employment of employees who lost their employment in Class ‘A’ and ‘B’ mines where work has been started, monthly pension of Rs. 5,000 for workers who have gained superannuation, sites and houses for workers, development of facilities such as anganwadis, community halls, libraries, labour centres, and PHCs, free medical services for workers, free education and financial support for higher education.
At the press conference were AICCTU members Maitreyi Krishnan and P. P. Appanna, Yariswamy, General Secretary of the Ballari Zilla Gani Karmikara Sangha, Lokesh, a member of the Sangha, and Nirmala M., a member of the All India Progressive Women’s Association.
