Regarding agitation of the workers of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Karnataka.
SHRI G. PUTTA SWAMY GOWDA : Sir, with your permission, I would like to raise a matter of public importance. It is regarding the agitation of FCI workers of Karnataka who are sitting in dharna in front of the Office of the Labour Minister of the Union Government, since four or five days. FCI is a public sector undertaking of the Union Government. Due to the maladministration and fraudulent operations of the authorities or the officers in Karnataka, the workers including the loading and unloading workers, are badly affected and are losing their legitimate rights. They are ignoring the welfare of the poor workers.
They have submitted a memorandum of demands to the authorities. Ten important demands, like increase in tender wages, regularisation of godown workers and prohibiting the contract labour system, have been put forth in the memorandum. The authorities are not sympathetic to their demands and have been ignoring their requests for nearly two or three years. Instead of considering their request, they are ignoring the welfare of the workers. They have fradulently drawn six crores of rupees in the name of workers. This is a very serious matter. I urge upon the Government to take suitable steps on this matter.