Labourers’ plea

Puri: Hundreds of labourers under the banner of Odisha Construction Workers’ Union, Puri branch, staged a mass agitation in front of the district labour office here Wednesday over various issues. They put forth several demands before the authorities including registration of unorganised workers in the construction sector, provision of government assistance to the beneficiaries registered since 2014-15, bicycles, equipment, primary safety kits and scholarships for their children. In addition, they demanded filling up of vacant posts in the labour office. Meanwhile, a section of workers brought allegations of massive irregularities and favouritism in the labour office. Association president Srikant Parija and other leaders condemned the alleged anti-labour policy of the state government. The agitators handed over a memorandum to labour Officer Purnachandra Panigrahi in this regard.