Tue Mar 18 15:13:48 UTC 2025: ## Wayanad Estate Workers to Protest Eviction, Unpaid Benefits
**Kozhikode, March 18, 2025** – A joint trade union in Wayanad, Kerala, is set to launch a three-stage protest against the planned eviction of approximately 300 workers from the Pulpara division of Elstone Estate. The protest, led by the Wayanad Estate Labour Union (affiliated with CITU), will begin with a demonstration at the Wayanad Collectorate on March 22. If the government fails to address their grievances, the protest will escalate to include family members laying siege to the Collectorate. The final stage involves claiming ownership of the disputed land.
The union alleges that the workers are facing eviction without adequate compensation prior to the commencement of a township project on March 27. They also claim that provident fund contributions from both employers and employees have not been remitted since 2014, and approximately 150 retired employees are yet to receive their gratuity. The union further demands job security for the workers, as the Pulpara division has been shut down.
While the union welcomes the government’s rehabilitation efforts for landslide survivors in the district, they emphasize the need to concurrently address the issues faced by Elstone Estate workers. The union has appealed to the Department of Labour, the Labour Commissioner, the District Collector, and the District Labour Officer for intervention, but claims to have received no response.
First Piper 