After protests, state to include Mathadi leaders in study group

He said there is disparity in welfare schemes of the 36 district boards. “There are some boards providing good welfare schemes to Mathadi workers while there are some boards that are not providing the same schemes. Our intention is to ensure that welfare schemes are same for Mathadi workers across the state,” he added.

Officials from the labour department said that the 36 district Mathadi boards currently function independently. Though these would be merged into one state-level board, they would continue to function from their existing offices at the districts, according to the proposal, said an official.

The Mathadi workers’ union had termed the labour department’s move an attempt to weaken the Maharashtra Math-adi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act. The labour department had formed a study group, formed on January 17, and headed by the labour commissioner, who has been asked to submit his report by January 31.

However, Mathadi workers’ unions claimed that the government has agreed to not merge the district boards and they will consult the Mathadi leaders for any amendments. Narendra Patil, legislator and general secretary of Maharashtra State Mathadi, Transport and General Workers’ Union, said, “After we questioned the motive behind the move, the government has agreed that it will not merge the district boards.”

“We asked the government to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Act next year rather than proposing amendments hurriedly. Now, we will hold a meeting of all Mathadi leaders tomorrow in Pune to chalk out further course of action,” said Baba Adhav, president of the Maharashtra State Hamal Mathadi Mahamandal.