Woman coir workers gherao Kerala Minister

In an apparent breach of security, a group of woman coir workers gheraoed Kerala Revenue and Coir Minister Adoor Prakash at his chamber at the Secretariat here today.

Around ten protesters, who were staging an indefinite day and night dharna before the Secretariat for the last 20 days raising various demands of coir sector, managed to enter the Minister's room on the pretext of presenting a memorandum.

However, the protesters squatted on the floor of the chamber and raised slogans when the minister was present.

As the protest continued for a few minutes, security officials and police rushed to the spot and removed them. An official at the minister's office said instructions had been given to police not to arrest them.
 

The official also said most demands, raised by coir workers, had already been met by the government and said the strike was politically motivated.

The indefinite sit-in, organised by CPI-M-backed Coir Workers Centre, began on March 12. Among other demands, the coir-workers wanted Congress-led UDF government to procure and preserve coir and the coir products produced by them.