Sangam urges Centre, state to check cement price

Chennai, Aug 2 (UNI) "The Akila Indiya Kattida Thozilalargal Mathya Sangam" today appealed to the Centre and Tamil Nadu Government to check the cement price hike and protect the interests of the construction workers.

In a statement here, the Sangam's General Secretary V Ranganathan said though the Centre reduced the excise duty by 30 per cent on cement in its recent budget, the cement price had increased considerably.

He said this trend would severely affect the construction industry and lot of construction workers would be rendered jobless.

He urged the government to provide a marriage assistance of Rs 10,000 to the children of the members of the building workers welfare board and Rs five lakh compensation for those who died in the accidents and Rs two lakh for natural death.

He wanted the government to provide ESI, pension, 25 per cent quota in state housing board houses, relief during monsoon period as in the case of fishermen and maternity assistance of Rs 10,000 for women building workers.

UNI