DISHA

In early 1993 DISHA successfully fought a case in court on behalf of 29 tribal families whose land was wrongfully acquired by GIDC to establish marble factories. In the process, DISHA and the tribal people (labourers in mines/factories) felt the need to start a trade union. Gujarat Mines and Mineral Processing Workersí Union was thus formed and started in April 1993 in order to unionize the labourers engaged in over 40 mines and mineral processing units of Ambaji region bordering Rajasthan. These labourers are mostly the tribals from villages of Danta taluka of Banaskantha and adjoining Khedbrahma taluka of Sabarkantha district as well as from the villages of Sirohi district of Rajasthan. Apart from the union work with the mine and factory labourers, the Chikhla Union works on the other issues DISHA has been engaged in, like Timru leaf pluckers, forest-land cultivators, forest labourers, benefits of Govt. schemes, representation for village amenities, etc. The Union has been playing an important role in getting the due rights and wages to the labourers; it has a unique way of pressurizing the employers to get compensation against the death or injuries occurred to the workers while working in mines and factories.

			In early 1993 DISHA successfully fought a case in court on behalf of 29 tribal families whose land was wrongfully acquired by GIDC to establish marble factories. In the process, DISHA and the tribal people (labourers in mines/factories) felt the need to start a trade union. Gujarat Mines and Mineral Processing Workersí Union was thus formed and started in April 1993 in order to unionize the labourers engaged in over 40 mines and mineral processing units of Ambaji region bordering Rajasthan. These labourers are mostly the tribals from villages of Danta taluka of Banaskantha and adjoining Khedbrahma taluka of Sabarkantha district as well as from the villages of Sirohi district of Rajasthan. Apart from the union work with the mine and factory labourers, the Chikhla Union works on the other issues DISHA has been engaged in, like Timru leaf pluckers, forest-land cultivators, forest labourers, benefits of Govt. schemes, representation for village amenities, etc. The Union has been playing an important role in getting the due rights and wages to the labourers; it has a unique way of pressurizing the employers to get compensation against the death or injuries occurred to the workers while working in mines and factories.


			A poster prepared by a tribal women



		Rally & Demostration by tribal workers on their burning issues tribal workers' listening the address at a meeting