CITU and Nagarika Horata Samiti Stage Rally Demanding Reinstatement of Terminated HPCL Women Contract Workers

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Surathkal : Protesting the illegal termination and demanding the immediate reinstatement of four women contract workers, the CITU Dakshina Kannada District Committee and Nagarika Horata Samiti Surathkal jointly organized a protest march from Katipalla Kaikamba Junction to the main gate of the HPCL plant at Bala near Surathkal, followed by a demonstration. The four women workers have been holding a continuous sit-in protest at the HPCL main entrance for the past two months.

Inaugurating the demonstration in front of the gate, CITU State President Comrade Meenakshi Sundaram criticized the plight of contract laborers in the country, highlighting that workers are made to labor for meager wages and thrown out of employment without prior notice or compensation. He asserted that while governments claim to introduce laws for worker welfare, contract workers are pushed to the streets without legal protections. He called HPCL’s action of terminating women contract workers without following due procedure a prime example of administrative negligence and reiterated CITU’s commitment to stand firmly with the workers until justice is delivered.

Nagarika Horata Samiti Convener Muneer Katipalla stated that major industrial units in the Surathkal region, including HPCL and MRPL, are at the forefront of exploiting contract labor. He alleged that non-local executives fill administrative roles and treat local contract workers like bonded labor. Expressing anger over the apathy of local authorities, he criticized the district administration, the local MP, and the MLA for failing to visit the site to address the grievances of the protesting women. He warned that if the matter is not resolved during the upcoming meeting convened by the Union Labor Department on Friday, the protest will be intensified.

CITU District President B.M. Bhat and leader B.K. Imthiyaz addressed the gathering, while CITU District General Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal delivered the introductory remarks. Several leaders and activists were present, including K. Yadava Shetty, Krishnappa Salian, Sadashiva Das, J. Balakrishna Shetty, Sukumar Thokkottu, Jayanthi B. Shetty, Ramani Moodbidri, Lakshmi Moodbidri, Lolakshi, Sundara Kumpala, Jayashree Belthangady, Vasantha Achari, Yogish Jeppinamogaru, Jayanta Nayak, Ravichandra Konchady, Vasanthi Kuppepadavu, Radha Moodbidri, Girija, Rizwan Harekala, Tayyub Bengre, Naveen Konchady, Krishna Thannirbhavi, Krishna Inna, Kiranprabha, Pramila Shaktinagar, Asha Boloor, Asunta, Saleem Katipalla, Samad Katipalla, B.K. Maksood, Ajmal Surathkal, Silvia Jokatte, and Gangadhara Banjan. Srinath Kulal delivered the vote of thanks.