Mysore/Mysuru: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the city was witness to a series of protests by different organisations in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office yesterday.

In the first protest, ASHA, Anganawadi and Mid-Day Meal workers, under the joint banner of CITU, AITUC, AIUTUC and TUCC, staged a demonstration opposing the privatisation moves of services.

Alleging that the Union Government was out to privatise Health, ICDS, Education and other key service sectors, the protestors claimed that privatisation will throw them out of their jobs and livelihood. 

Urging the Government to sanction enough funds for Centrally-sponsored schemes such as Mid-Day Meal scheme, CDPO schemes and National Health Mission, they wanted the Government to declare them as Trade Workers and regularise their services. 

Seeking minimum monthly wages of Rs. 21,000, they demanded timely distribution of safety and PPE Kits to all those engaged in COVID-19 duty.

Union leaders Rekha, H.S. Sunanda, Mahadevamma, Jayanti and others took part in  the protest.

Villagers protest

In the second protest, several villagers of Bidarahalli Circle, located close to the Banks of Kabini Dam in H.D. Kote taluk, staged a demonstration under the banner of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) seeking proper rehabilitation for them. 

Claiming that the previous District In-charge Minister V. Somanna, during a visit to flood affected areas in the vicinity of the Dam last year, had promised them proper rehabilitation and had even laid foundation stone for a few houses, the villagers maintained that nothing has moved beyond that and new houses have become a distant dream for them. 

Stating that they too were part of the construction of the Dam, they said that the Government must come to their aid by rehabilitating them appropriately and thus save them from the constant threat of floods during the monsoon every year.

SUCI office-bearers Chandrashekar  Meti, Sunil Harish, Puttaraju and others were present.

Hut-dwellers’ demo 

In the third protest, hut-dwellers of Kuri Mandi in Kesare, staged a demonstration under the banner of Karnataka Dalita Sangharsha Samiti seeking construction of houses for them.

Claiming that they have been living in thatched huts for years braving the vagaries of nature, they said that repeated pleas to people’s representatives had fallen on deaf ears. 

They urged the Government to come to their rescue. Office-bearers Lingaraj Malladi, H.V. Diwakar, K. Nanjappa and others took part in the dharna.