Plantation workers to get PF

CHIKMAGALUR: The plantation workers who were not included in the provident fund (PF) benefit will be short-listed, said union minister of state for commerce.

The minister who visited the coffee centre of the Coffee Board here on Thursday held a meeting with the union leaders and instructed the officials to make a detailed and flawless survey.

The state has five lakh plantation workers, of which only one lakh have been enlisted to the PF benefits, he said. Coffee Board chairman informed that many small planters have not declared the number of their workers depriving benefits for them.

The union leaders urged the minister to include plantation workers in Anna Anthyodaya and BPL list.

“The Union government is just providing adequate ration to the beneficiaries and the state government prepares the list of it,” he said. He assured them of discussing the issue with the chief minister.

He ruled out starting a separate school for the children of plantation workers, but assured that they can be given uniform and also financial help.

“If planters’ children intend to pursue higher education, they will be provided with training programme and the cost will be borne by the department,” the minister assured. Within 10 years from now, coffee will be planted in more than 80,000 hectares, he said.

Coffee Board member D K Udaya Shankar, AITUC leader Abdul Jabbar, CITU leader Sukumar and ESUSI secretary Shivananda Swamy were present.