The kendu leaf workers under Jharsuguda Kendu Leaf Division on Tuesday held a demonstration before the Collectorate.
Starting from the Railway Institute of the town, the workers started a large procession with placards giving slogans, which reached the district Collector office through the main road. The representatives handed over a 9 -point charter of demands to the Collector for the Chief Minister.
They said some vested groups are trying to privatise kendu leaf trade. Even in the name of GST, high tax is being levied on kendu leaf and bidi. As a result, the trade is adversely affected. The Forest department and OFDC are being forced to sell kendu leaf and bidi at low price. Kendu leaf pluckers and seasonal workers are facing acute financial crisis as a result of distress sale, alleged the agitators, who added that the poor workers in the sector are not able to maintain their families.
They demanded that the kendu leaf sector be not privatized and Gram Sabha meeting be held to maintain status quo in kendu leaf trade, withdrawal of GST, Provident Fund and pension scheme, payment of wages to pluckers in 2/3 installments after collection, payment of new minimum wage and 20 per cent bonus.
State president of the association of kendu leaf workers Bijay Mohanty, secretary Jogendranath Tripathy, Gokul Meher, Sanjit Mohanty, Pradip Sahoo, Bipin Biswal and Umesh Pradhan among others were present.