Building workers begin relay fast

Vijayawada, Apr 10 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Building Workers Federation (APBWF) today began a relay fast here to exert pressure on the Rajasekhar Reddy government to implement the building construction workers act in Andhra Pradesh.

APBWF General Secretary P Surya Rao told newsmen that though parliament had passed the act nine years ago, the state government had not shown interest in implementing it.

The act was being implemented in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karanataka, Delhi and Pondicherry, he said and added relay fasts on the issue would continue till april 18. A huge procession will be taken out here.

He said about 50 lakh unorganised workers in the state were depending on this profession and they were deprived of minimum wages, education, medical facilities and accident insurance due to non-implementation of the act.

UNI CS VV ADB1755