INTUC,HMS demand welfare fund for forest workers in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Oct 09 (UNI) The Orissa unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress(INTUC) and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) today demanded creation of welfare fund for 50 lakhs forest workers engaged in forest produce activities.

The workers, who demonstrated before the assembly here in support of their demands, threatened to launch a statewide agitation from January if the demands were not fulfilled by December.

Talking to newsmen, INTUC president R C Khuntia, general secretary Kishore Jena and HMS general secretary Jogendra Tripathy said the state government had constituted a welfare fund for the kendu leaf workers in May but later withdrew the scheme refunding the money to the workers.

'' This has caused great resentment among the kendu leaf pluckers across the state who constitute nearly 16 lakhs of the 50 lakhs forest workers,'' Mr Khuntia said.

He demanded that not only the Welfare Fund for these pluckers be reconstituted but also similar fund be set up for the sal leaf plate makers, bamboo cutters and workers engaged in minor forest produce collection.

The union leaders demanded the abolition of advance sale system in kendu leaf trade stating that such a practice had paved way for private traders to exploitation the forest workers.

Mr Tripathy said last year the state government had suffered loss of Rs 6 crores due to the introduction of advance sale system in kendu leaf trade at Jeypore and Nabarangpur district.

He further has demanded the collection and marketing of kendu leaf be restored by the department.

The INTUC and HMS also demanded the forest workers be provided with a minimum 200 days work under the special employment guarantee scheme.

UNI DP PP DB1857