Kundapura, September 20, 2025 – Hundreds of elderly construction workers took to the streets in a statewide protest demanding approval for their pension applications rejected due to age mismatches between Aadhaar records and registration certificates. The demonstration, led by the Taluk Building and Other Construction Workers Union (CITU), highlighted the plight of marginalized laborers who have been denied benefits for 3-4 years.
The workers, many visually impaired, hearing-impaired, or mobility-challenged, marched to draw attention to their grievances. Union President Suresh Kallagar criticized the Labor Welfare Board for ignoring repeated memorandums and appeals to departments. “Despite submitting applications with doctor-estimated ages and consent forms before Aadhaar’s advent, the board’s software flags discrepancies, leading to rejections. This forces vulnerable seniors to protest, which is inhumane,” Kallagar said.
He noted that despite appeals to District In-Charge Minister Rohini Sindhuri, the District Collector, and elected representatives, no resolution has been achieved. “The board promises meetings but shows no progress, pushing the elderly to the brink.”
The protest was led by Pensioners’ Union President Chikka Mogaveer Gangolli, Secretary Krishna Poojari Hangaluru, Taluk General Secretary Santosh Hemmadi, and district CITU leader Balkees, among others.
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