Kalimela:Feb, 25: Following a call by the Odisha Kendu Leaf Workers’ Association, kendu leaf pluckers, seasonal workers, and binding laborers working in the MV-79 area staged a sit-in protest in front of the Range Office .
According to the workers, although memorandums had earlier been submitted to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and departmental authorities, no concrete steps have been taken so far. In protest, they organized a mass demonstration to draw the government’s attention to their grievances.
Their key demands include:
Increase in the rate per bag and bundle of kendu leaves
Hike in monthly wages of seasonal workers
Increase in bonus rates
Enhancement of death compensation to ₹4 lakh
Provision of leave during illness
Filling up vacant posts
Allocation of ₹200 crore in the budget for social security
They also demanded a halt to the eviction of kendu leaf phadis (collection centers), stopping indirect privatization in certain proposed divisions, and convening a meeting of the Welfare Trust Board at the earliest.
Association representatives stated at the protest site that if their demands are not fulfilled soon, the agitation will be intensified in the coming days. While the protest has sparked discussion in the area, no official response has yet been issued by the administration.
No Responses