By Team Mangalorean
Photographs: Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore, February 23, 2008:  Various group of students including the ones that study Physiotherapy and members of Dakshina Kannada branch of Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) have appealed to the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Mr. Oscar Fernandes to amend the physiotherapy council Bill introduced in the Parliament and which will be soon coming to Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Fernandes was in the city to inaugurate the students’ convention organised by the district unit of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) to commemorate the centenary of Satyagraha movement by Gandhiji here today February 23, 2008.

Asking him to amend the bill the groups stated that major sections of the bill, especially the one pertaining to definition, had to be corrected. They stated in a memorandum to the minister that the definition in the bill was not helpful for growth of physiotherapy Instead they wanted the minister to help set up a common council for physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The memorandum observed that both were different professions and needed to be governed by independent councils.

Dr. U.T. Ifthikar Ali, convener of the Mangalore branch who spoke to the minister stated that these issues were before the Government for a long time and they should be acted on now he added.

The bank pigmy collectors association who also put forward their problems told Mr. Fernandes that the pigmy collectors, under the aegis of All India Bank Deposit Collectors Workmen Union, were not given the workmen status on collectors working for banks as per a Supreme Court order in this regard. H.D. Ashok Kumar, general secretary of the Dakshina Kannada unit, said some bank managements were thinking of closing down the pigmy scheme. The State Bank of India had approached the Apex Court in this regard, they said.

DCC President Ramanath Rai,  NSUI former president Ramesh Chennithala, Vinaya Kumar Sorake, Jayaram Shetty, B.A. Moideen, Vijay Kumar Shetty, UT Khader, District Congress President MA Gafoor, President of Youth Congress wing Bondala Jagannath Shetty, DCC Minority wing president Moideen Bawa, INTUC President Rakesh Malli, DCC Vice President Ivan DSouza and other congress leaders including Kallige Tharanath Shetty,  Sadashiv Ullal and MG Hegde were present.