Unions demand relief for families

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10

Demanding compensation for the families of labourers who were electrocuted while working at a house in New Punjabi Bagh on Sunday, labour unions, led by the Indian National Trade Union Congress, held a protest outside the DC office on Tuesday.

The protest that lasted for over an hour was put off after the district administration officials assured the unions of adequate compensation to the bereaved families.

Iqbal Singh, ADC, accepted the memorandum and assured the protesters that the administration would send a proposal to the government for compensation to the families of the deceased workers.

Firoz Master, general secretary INTUC Punjab, who led the protest, said the deceased were survived by their wives and children who were left with no source of income. The government should come forward for the sake of their children who lost their only breadwinner.

“We have submitted a memorandum to ADC Iqbal Singh Sandhu who assured us that there was a provision in the law under which compensation could be given to the deceased’s families. We hope the ADC would soon fulfil his assurance,” said Firoz.

He claimed post-mortem of the bodies was not conducted as the bereaved families refused to give their assent for the same. Now that the administration has assured us of compensation to the families, they would give their nod for post-mortem.

The union, however, warned if the administration did not fulfil its assurance soon, the labour unions would take to roads and would start a series of protests outside the DC office. The house owner, Raju, who was booked in a culpable homicide case, was arrested on Monday.