Dalit sanitation women workers protest against DRDO Bengaluru over ‘unlawful termination’
demand reinstating them
Bengaluru: Around 61 women safai karamcharis (Sanitation workers) staged a demonstration in front of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) building, a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru on Monday, protesting against their sudden termination. The workers were abruptly terminated in March 2024 stating that their services were no longer needed, as reported by TheNewsMinute.com.
The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), which has been advocating on behalf of the workers, claims that the women were targeted for raising concerns about extortion and mistreatment by their contractor. According to the AICCTU, since 2019, the contractor had been illegally demanding a monthly cut of ₹3,000 to ₹4,200 from the workers' wages, claiming the funds were to be shared between the contracting agency and CABS supervisors.
Despite complaints to CABS officials, no action was allegedly taken to stop the alleged extortion. The situation came to a head in October 2023 when the workers lodged a complaint with the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), who intervened and stopped the illegal collections. However, on March 23, 2024, when the workers returned to their jobs, they were informed that their services were no longer required due to the arrival of a new contractor, Indian Security Agency.
Following the incident, The AICCTU filed a complaint with the Karnataka State Commission for Safai Karamcharis (KSCSK), which ruled in favor of the workers and ordered their reinstatement on May 9, 2024. Despite this directive and further orders from the state’s social welfare department and the Minister for Social Welfare, CABS has refused to comply, preventing the women from resuming their duties.
Meanwhile, the protesting women are now demanding immediate reinstatement of their duties and state that their termination was made in act of retaliation for challenging the extortion practices.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
