Nabarangpur – Today, in front of the Nabarangpur Kendupatta DFO office, the Odisha Kendupatta Workers’ Union, Phulbani Division Committee submitted a memorandum demanding various welfare measures for Kendupatta pluckers and workers. The protest was held against the reduction of the approved budget for Kendupatta welfare from ₹100 crore to ₹50 crore, delays in providing marriage assistance for daughters despite government promises, and the failure to implement minimum wage hikes which were announced in July last year but remain unfulfilled after nine months. The monthly wages for seasonal employees have not been increased, nor has the piece rate for bonded laborers.
Additionally, the demand included objections regarding the flawed restructuring of the long-standing demand for the formation of the KLDV (Kendupatta Leaf Development Board). Protesters expressed dissatisfaction over delays in providing other social security and financial assistance. They also pointed out that even though the election manifesto had promised an increase in the per-kerry (bundle) rate for Kendupatta, the rate has not yet been revised despite the beginning of the collection season. This has led to deep discontent among the workers, who demanded an immediate announcement of a price hike.
The protestors also demanded the abolition of the 18% GST levied on Kendupatta collected by the organization and insisted that the unjustly collected amount should be returned by the central and state governments and redirected to pluckers and workers through social welfare schemes.
Under the leadership of union president Bijay Mohanty, demonstrations were organized across 19 divisions in Odisha. Organizational secretary Sanjit Kumar Mohanty addressed the gathering, strongly criticizing the government’s negligence and urging the administration to address the pressing demands of the Kendupatta seasonal workers.
He warned that if these demands are ignored, the workers would be compelled to launch a larger agitation. Editor Mohammad Mutuza stated that due to the government’s neglect of various social schemes, dissatisfaction among Kendupatta workers is steadily increasing.
Later, a 10-point demand letter addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted through DFO Ghanashyam Mohanty. Copies of the memorandum were also sent to the Forest Minister, Additional Chief Secretary, and PCCF. Hundreds of workers signed the demand letter.
It was declared that if the negligence in providing marriage assistance continues, DFO offices across the state will face massive protests.
Prominent leaders who addressed the gathering included:
Organizational Secretary Sanjit Mohanty
State Secretary Mohammad Mutuza
Media Coordinator Debajyoti Pattnayak
Youth Leader Dharmendra Adhikari
Division Secretary Bhagirath Bishoi, Jagannath Satapathy
Assistant Secretaries Kokila Nayak, Laxmi Bishoi, Ramchandra Bishoi, Rajesh Kuldeep, Sanjeev Gand, Lairam Guita, Yodha Suna, Lambudhar Satapathy, Basudev Nayak, Shobha Sundar Giri, Gomati Nayak, Arati Harijan, Shakuntala Majhi, Mudrika Bag, Tilottama Pujari and other representatives.
They all voiced their concerns and expressed solidarity with the seasonal workers during the protest demonstration.
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