BENGALURU: More than 1,000 erstwhile mine workers from villages across Ballari district who lost their jobs overnight in 2011 are set to walk in protest from Sandur to the district headquarters from October 11 to 13 demanding that they are adequately compensated and their livelihoods be restored.
These workers had lost their jobs when these mines were shut down as part of a Supreme Court-led clampdown against the widespread rampant illegal mining in the district.
According to these disenfranchised workers, as part of the apex court-directed process, an amount of Rs 19,443 crore has been collected till date by the authorities for the purpose of a comprehensive environment plan for mining impact zones in Ballari, Tumakuru and Chitradurga districts. However, the plan has no provisions to improve the conditions of these workers who were already being exploited by the mine operators..
