Mysore/Mysuru: Opposing the proposal to merge Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation and Karnataka Silk Marketing Board with Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) and give incentives to employees as per the agreement, the employees of KSIC Silk Factory staged a protest in front of DC Office here yesterday. 

The employees, under the banner of Joint Employees’ Action Committee of Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation, protesting against the merger proposal, said that the profit-making KSIC would end up as a loss-making unit if the Handloom Corporation and Silk Marketing Board are merged with KSIC.

The protestors said that the KSIC has 18 outlets with an annual turnover of Rs. 200 crore, out of which Rs. 25 to Rs. 30 crore was being spent for its expansion. Instead of supporting the initiatives taken up by KSIC, the Government was proposing to merge it, they regretted and urged the Government to drop the merger proposal in the interest of Silk Factory. They also sought an incentive of Rs. 15,000 promised to them during Dasara last year, which was still pending. AITUC District Secretary H.R. Sheshadri, leaders of various Labour Unions M. Kalappa, C. Mohan, Sudarshan and Basavaraju were present.