CITU warns of Udupi bandh if sand problem is not solved
Labourers stage protest against sand scarcity in Udupi
Udupi, September 20: District Building and Construction Workers Association (CITU) secretary Balakrishna Shetty warned of calling for Udupi Bandh if the sand problem was not solved immediately.
Addressing the construction workers who staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Thursday against the scarcity of the sand in the district, Shetty said that the district administration has not taken any steps to lift sand from the sand blocks. If the district administration thought about the legal problem, the labourers would not get their livelihood. They could not lead their life without sand. They were not asking luxurious life. But they want minimum requirement for their livelihood, he said.
They submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Vidya Kumari. Association President Shekar Bangera, Honorary President Dayanand Kotian, Leaders Suresh Kallagar, Kaviraj, K. Shankar, Ganesh Nayak, Rama Karkada and others were present. Before the protest, the agitators took out a protest march from Manipal Tiger Circle to DC office.
Demands
The district administration should take steps to provide one unit sand at Rs 2,000.Country-made boats should be allowed to lift sand.Vacant posts in the Labour department should be filled immediately.Pension should be increased to Rs 3,000.Housing loan and subsidy should be given for construction workers to construct houses and purchase sites.PF should be implemented as announced in the 2017 budget.All construction labourers should be given ESI facility.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah writes to CMs of 8 states on unfair devolution of taxes by Centre
Bengaluru, Sep 11: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he has written to the Chief Ministers of eight states regarding the "unfair" devolution of taxes by the Union government, and has invited them to a conclave in Bengaluru to collectively deliberate on the issues of "fiscal federalism".
He said he has written to the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.
"States with higher GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) per capita, like Karnataka and others, are being penalised for their economic performance, receiving disproportionately lower tax allocations. This unjust approach undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism and threatens the financial autonomy of progressive states," he said in a post on 'X' with "#OurTaxOurRight" hashtag.
"I have invited them to a conclave in Bengaluru to collectively deliberate on the issues of fiscal federalism at a juncture when the Finance Commission needs to make a directional shift & create incentives for growth and better tax mobilisation," he said.
ALSO READ: CM denies charge of "vendetta politics" behind panel to speed up probe into scams during BJP rule
Siddararamaiah has also posted the letter written to CMs of other states on 'X'.
"As you are aware the 16th Finance Commission has begun its deliberations. The previous Finance Commissions have laid excessive emphasis on equity at the cost of efficiency and performance. As a result, states with higher GSDP per capita and higher contribution to the gross tax revenues of the union are progressively receiving lower shares of the central fiscal transfers," he said.
Stating that during the visit of the 16th Finance Commission to the State of Karnataka, during 29-30, August 2024, he underscored the need to carefully examine the impact of high emphasis given to equity on resource devolution to well performing states, he said, "I have emphasised that the reduction in central financial transfers to well performing states is placing severe limitations on their ability to invest in physical and human infrastructure."
The taxpayers of states, which are net donors to the divisible pool, also expect a fair share of their taxes to come back to them, he said, adding that the Finance Commission therefore needs to carefully balance equity with efficiency and performance.
Pointing out that states with a strong contribution to the country's GDP and Gross Tax Revenue, help build the nation in more ways than one, Siddaramaiah said, therefore, there is an urgent need to balance equity with efficiency and performance for a stronger Union, both politically and economically.
"It is, therefore, important that states which are receiving smaller shares in horizontal devolution, compared to their contributions to the Gross Tax Revenues of the Union, need to articulate a coordinated set of proposals before the Commission," he said.
"It is my pleasure to invite you to a conclave in Bengaluru to discuss these issues further. I will send a separate invitation indicating the dates once we firm up the schedule," he added.
I have written to the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab regarding the unfair devolution of taxes by the Union government.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 11, 2024
States with higher GSDP per capita, like Karnataka and others, are being penalized… pic.twitter.com/SLqpNwVPDA
