Agricultural labour seek 200 days of work under rural job scheme

Agricultural labour staging a demonstration near the Zilla Panchayat office in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, demanding 200 days of work under the rural employment guarantee scheme and payment of pending wages.

Agricultural labour, under the banner of the Karnataka Agricultural Workers Union affiliated to the All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), staged a demonstration in front of the Zilla Panchayat office in Kalaburagi on Wednesday demanding 200 days of work under the rural employment guarantee scheme, payment of pending wages and the immediate launch of drought-relief works.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat highlighting the hardships faced by agricultural labour due to the prevailing drought-like conditions in the district.

In the memorandum, the union said that farmers and agricultural labour have suffered heavy losses after crops sown with considerable investment in seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs were damaged.

With agricultural work becoming scarce, several labour are left without employment and are struggling to make ends meet.

The union said that even those who worked under the employment guarantee scheme have been cheated with nominal muster rolls (NMRs) recording wages of only ₹150 to ₹250.

It also complained that wages are not being paid on time, causing severe hardship to workers.

Pointing out that workers in some gram panchayats have already exhausted 125 days of employment, the union demanded that the number of guaranteed working days be increased to at least 200 per year. It also sought a system to ensure payment of wages every week.

The memorandum further demanded that drought-relief works be taken up in every village after the completion of 200 days of employment, besides the implementation of the food for work scheme. The union also called for the immediate clearance of all pending wage payments.

It urged the authorities to ensure that work is provided within three days of a labour submitting Form 6 seeking employment under the scheme.

The union leaders appealed to the Chief Executive Officer to bring the demands to the notice of the State government and take steps to address the grievances of agricultural labour.

The demonstration was led by district president Bhimashetty Yampalli, district secretary Mallamma Kodli, vice-president Meghraj Katare and joint secretary Prabhu Khanabaddi, among others.

Office-bearers representing various taluks of the district also participated.