Siddaramaiah demands special package for unorganised sector workers


PTI, Apr 28, 2020, 7:10 PM IST

Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday demanded that the Karnataka government announce a “special package” for unorganised sector workers, street vendors and autorickshaw drivers, among others, all daily wagers whose lives are affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

“..a special package needs to be announced to this section of people, this is the demand,” Siddaramaiah, who is also Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, told reporters here.

Alleging that the government has failed to control the spread of coronavirus, he said it is the government’s responsibility to take care of the basic needs of those from the unorganised sector, whose lives have been impacted by the lockdown.

“It is the duty of the government and they should do it immediately. The package should also be announced.

I will hold discussions with leaders of other opposition parties like JD(S), CPI, CPI(M) and BSP in this regard and also on trouble faced by farmers,” he added.

Alleging discrimination in the supply of food packets and ration kits, Siddaramaiah said it was being supplied properly only in constituencies represented by BJP legislators.

“Politics is being played out in supply of food materials to the needy, keeping corporation elections in mind….

We don’t want to do politics at this point in time as there is a lockdown. If things continue to be the same after the lockdown ends, we will protest on the streets,” he said.

Siddaramaiah on Tuesday interacted with representatives of auto rickshaw and cab drivers, street vendors, barbers, unorganised workers organisations, among others, to understand the difficulties faced by them during the lockdown and to know whether help from the government has reached them.

He said most of them don’t have work and it has become difficult for them to lead their normal lives.

They raised several issues like auto and cab drivers being unable to pay road tax and EMI, he said, adding that he would write a detailed letter to the Chief Minister in this regard

The former Chief Minister pointed out that there are about 21 lakh registered organised workers, 1.32 crore lakh unorganised workers and also agriculture labourers in the state.

“Among organised workers only 12.5 of the 21 lakh are said to be getting Rs 2000, that too from the Employees Welfare Fund, while others could not get any money, citing reasons like they have not renewed it,” he said.

On the other hand, unorganised sector workers don’t get money and were also not getting proper food or ration kits, he alleged

Though the labour department claimed that it was supplying one lakh food packets and 1.5 lakh ration kits, as also corporations, there were leakages and it was not reaching the beneficiaries properly, he said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Jayant Patil claims BJP used irrigation ‘scam’ to blackmail Ajit Pawar; Fadnavis, NCP chief hit back

Medical College expels 5 MBBS students from hostel for ragging juniors

Insulting women is in DNA of Cong leaders, alleges Jharkhand BJP

Man arrested from Delhi for calling up Pappu Yadav posing as aide of Lawrence Bishnoi

Tejasvi Surya hits out at Kharge, CMs of Cong-ruled states over poll promises

Farooq Abdullah seeks inquiry into spike in terror attacks in Valley since Omar’s swearing-in

Sabarimala pilgrims to get free insurance coverage of Rs five lakh

Related Articles More

Tejasvi Surya hits out at Kharge, CMs of Cong-ruled states over poll promises

Kumaraswamy sheds tears during elections but vanishes when people are in tears: Shivakumar

CM Siddaramaiah promises efforts to include Kannada label on products made in Karnataka

“Chinnara Banna-2024” held successfully in Bantwal

Kharge getting personal on PM’s political observations on Karnataka surprising: BJP MP

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Jayant Patil claims BJP used irrigation ‘scam’ to blackmail Ajit Pawar; Fadnavis, NCP chief hit back

Medical College expels 5 MBBS students from hostel for ragging juniors

Insulting women is in DNA of Cong leaders, alleges Jharkhand BJP

Man arrested from Delhi for calling up Pappu Yadav posing as aide of Lawrence Bishnoi

Tejasvi Surya hits out at Kharge, CMs of Cong-ruled states over poll promises

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.