Karimnagar: Corona makes hamali workers lives miserable

Karimnagar: Hamali workers, who play a vital role in business activities, are facing lot of problems and living under miserable conditions during lockdown, imposed to contain Covid-19. Their earnings will be meagre and now without work, their plight is unexplainable in Karimnagar district.

There are over 20,000 hamali workers working in agricultural markets, godowns, shopping malls, cement factories, iron stores and in other business centres across the district. At present, many of them are working day and night at IKP centres and market yards. Unfortunately, they are denied facilities from the government and not paid enough wages.

There will be no work for the hamalis throughout the year and their income is not sufficient for looking after their families. Due to heavy work, after 50 years of age, hamali workers will several health issues and are unable to nourish their family members. Most of the hamalis suffer with kidney problems.

Speaking to The Hans India, District Hamali Sangham president Sambu Komuraiah said that on number of occasions, they staged dharnas and protests and even did strike demanding

the government to solve their issues and appealed the public representatives, MLAs and Ministers to take issue to the notice of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to resolve their problems, but in vain.

During the lockdown period, the government sanctioned Rs1,500 and distributed 12 kgs of rice to white ration card holders but some of the hamali workers, who did not have ration card even after applying for one, did not received ration and amount, he pointed out.

The government must handover daily commodities worth at least Rs 10,000 to all hamali workers every month, who are working in agricultural market yards. Komuraiah also demanded pension to those, who crossed 50 years along with providing ESI. He also demanded to provide place for the construction of Hamali Sangham building along with allotting funds immediately.

Telangana Udyoga and Karmika Sangham Joint Action Committee Honourable president Hari Ashok Kumar said Hamali workers, who come under unorganised sector, do not have any social security.

Many of them hail from Dalit, backward and minority communities but denied of welfare schemes of sites and houses from the government. Though the previous government had given priority for the workers, no one fulfilled the main issues of hamali workers till today.

Ashok Kumar demanded that the government should announce welfare schemes for Hamali workers and Provident Fund facility along with allotment of double bedroom houses. They should be issued job card along with all the unorganised labourers, who had applied, and insurance also should be provided to them, he demanded.