Plantation workers living in hellish condition, rues VS Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan on Thursday urged the government to resolve the six day old strike of plantation workers mainly women, in Munnar.

The opposition leader supporter workers demand for 20 per cent bonus. Last year the plantation workers were given 19 per cent bonus but this time the company unilaterally reduced to 10 per cent which led to the agitation.

He said the workers had launched indefinite strike as a last resort. Earlier they held a dharna in front of secretariat, carried out campaign and also a token strike.

However, the management failed to resolve the issue forcing the workers to go on an indefinite strike.

Achuthanandan said during the LDF government’s tenure 10,000 acres of land was given to the plantation workers for constructing tenements.

With the UDF government handing over the land back to companies, the workers are living in absolute hell like conditions.

Besides, they are facing innumerable problems in their day to day lives and now with bonus also being denied to them, the workers are driven to the wall.