Labourers seek cheap power, submit memo to SDM

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 2

On a call by its state working committee, the district panel of the Dihati Mazdoor Sabha staged a protest in front of the district administrative complex (DAC) here on Monday. They accused the Centre and the state government of adopting anti-labourer polices.

A delegation of the sabha also submitted a memorandum, addressed to the state government, to the SDM. In the memorandum, they demanded an exemption in power bills for landless labourer families and subsidised electricity at Rs2 per unit for the labourers.

Besides, they also demanded free potable water, Rs5 lakh and 10-marla land for constructing houses, doing away with wastage of water and privatisation policy.

The protesters also demanded Rs600 per day as labour for the entire family and employment throughout the year under MGNREGA. The protesters also sought Rs3,000 per month pension for elderly, widow and differently abled.

Addressing the protesters, sabha members said, “Landless Dalit labourers are unemployed. The Centre and state government have ignored them. Both governments are working in favour of corporate families by implementing policies that favour privatisation, adding to the woes of the Dalit and poor.”