Mangalore: Several construction workers led by CITU demanded better facilities for themselves,  by holding a protest here in front of the office of the Assistant Labor Department on September 15.

Addressing the protestors Vasanth Acharya, chief secretary of CITU said that the labor department has failed to provide facilities to the beneficiaries, who had applied for it in 2012-13. There is a shortage of staff in the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mangalore. Hence, the applications for benefits filled by the construction workers are lying unattended in the office, he said. By doing this, the government is failing to work for the poor, he added.

Acharya asked the government to simplify the process of applying for the benefits meant for the betterment of construction workers.

Urging the labour office, to clear all the pending files and make a swift provision of facilities to the beneficiaries, Acharya said that the state government has only created a brand as ‘pro-poor’, while they are not honestly working for our cause. He accused the congress of being no different from the BJP.

Sunil Kumar Bajal said that the government should make use of the construction workers welfare fund for the good of these workers. The construction workers are deprived of facilities. The application to enjoy a government facility is complex especially for  marriage, educational scholarship, construction of house, medical facilities etc.

Ravichandra Konchadi, Lokesh M., Yogish Jeppinamogaru and members of Karnataka State construction workers Federation were present at the protest.