Surathkal witnessed a month-long protest by four women contract workers, who claim Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) terminated their employment without prior notice. These women, who collectively served the company for decades, have been staging a dharna satyagraha outside the HPCL main gate, demanding justice and reinstatement since September 1st.
Sharanamma Bajantri, Paravva Ganiger, Suvarna Patil, and Sooramma Kollad, all hailing from Bagalkot, are the individuals at the heart of the dispute. Suvarna Patil had completed 25 years of service at HPCL on a contract basis. Sharanavva Bajantri and Paravva Ganiger each worked for 15 years, while Sooramma Kollad performed housekeeping duties for a decade before their sudden dismissal.
The impact of this abrupt termination has been severe for the workers. Sharanamma Bajantri shared her distress with Vartabharati, explaining, "When I came to work on September 1st as usual, they closed the gate and told me I was dismissed." She supports an elderly mother and a 15-year-old daughter, her husband having recently passed away. "My income was supporting the household. Now, without work for a month, it's difficult to run the house. Relying on this job, I took loans for my daughter's schooling and my mother's medical treatment. Now, I can't repay the loans, and we are in a situation where we might starve to death." Suvarna Patil, who lives in a rented house, echoed the sentiment, stating, "They just dismissed those who came to work. I don't know how to survive."
Muneer Katipalla, CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada Secretary, condemned the dismissals, alleging violations of labor laws, especially given the workers' long tenures. He noted that others have been hired in their place, with no explanation provided for the terminations. Katipalla also pointed out that the contractor is reportedly from Andhra Pradesh, and HPCL officials are unavailable to discuss the matter, with their mobiles switched off. "All large companies in our land are only doing injustice to Kannadigas and Tuluvas. This cannot be tolerated," he asserted.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have extended their support to the protesting women. A CITU delegation recently met with the workers to understand their plight. Muneer Katipalla declared that if HPCL does not reinstate the dismissed women by October 7th, DYFI will escalate the protest into a large-scale, indefinite agitation. DYFI leaders Srinath Kulal and Azmal Khan, along with CITU leader Yogish Jappina Mogaru, were part of the delegation showing solidarity.
Image: varthabharati.in
đź“° Source: Vartha Bharati DK