100 washermen stage sit-in stir for land patta

CHENGALPATTU: More than 100 laundry workers staged a sit-in protest at the Chengalpattu Collectorate on Monday demanding free land leases and community centers.

A group of laundry workers living in Madhuranthagam taluk for more than 20 years met the Collector on Monday and claimed that despite approaching several government offices requesting help with their land patta, no one has offered any assistance so far.

Following this, members of the Mahatma Gandhi Laundry Workers’ Association presented their main demands such as district-level Vannar caste certificate for the community, free land patta, free iron boxes, sewing machines and a community welfare center to be set up for them. On hearing about their protest, Collector Rahul Nath met with the group and received the petition after promising action. The protestors also brought to the attention of the Collector that despite his orders to identify a location to set up the community center, the revenue officials have taken no action so far.