Khadi weavers start protest for better wages

About 50 weavers affiliated to the Rajasthan Khadi Gramodyog Sanstha union today launched a protest, demanding better wages and re-employment of 1,500 weavers in Jhalawar district.
The protesters were led by union secretary Rajendra Bhandari.
Bhandari, who began a fast-unto-death here today, said in the past four years as many as 1,500 weavers were out of jobs. And the Khadi making units and the central government did not pay heed to their demand of wage hike.
Jhalawar used to produce khadi fabric worth Rs 10 crore annually, and but it has been stopped since April 1, 2010. As many as 1,500 weavers were left jobless, he said.

Most of the weavers are not getting more than Rs 94 for eight hours of work at a weaving unit, and it should be raised to Rs 200, he said, adding that the central government should contribute its fifty per cent share to raise the wages.
The union also demanded a fair audit of work being carried out in the district units and their income, he said.
According to Bhandari, the union had given a memorandum to the new BJP government for early solution of its nine-point charter of demands.