DK Shivakumar Makes Surprise 6 AM Visit to Yeshwantpur APMC; Orders Arrests Over Child Labour

 Political Bureau | Bangalore Mail

BENGALURU: In an unannounced early-morning move, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar arrived at the Yeshwantpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yard at 6:00 AM on Tuesday to inspect operations, listen to grievance reports from local growers, and review infrastructure conditions.

During his walk-through of the onion, potato, ginger, and garlic wholesale markets, the Chief Minister interacted with onion growers, women market workers, commission agents, and hamaals (porters). Sitting on onion sacks alongside labourers, Shivakumar listened as workers shared details regarding high middleman margins, excessive transportation fees, and poor yard maintenance.

Zero Tolerance for Child Labour: Police Directed to Act

The visit took a stern turn when Chief Minister Shivakumar discovered children as young as 7 to 10 years old engaging in heavy physical labour within the yard.

Taking immediate note of the violation, Shivakumar issued a strict ultimatum to local law enforcement authorities, including the Circle Inspector, DSP, and DCP.

“Small children aged 7, 8, and 10 years are being engaged in heavy labour here. I have directed senior police officers that all individuals employing child labour must be booked and arrested by this evening. If the police fail to take action, I will suspend the responsible officers immediately,” Shivakumar warned while addressing reporters.

Addressing Middleman Margins and Infrastructure Gaps

Apart from the child labour directive, the Chief Minister focused on economic discrepancies facing regional farmers who transport their produce to Bengaluru from districts like Vijayapura and Kalaburagi, as well as neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Farmers raised concerns over disproportionate commission deductions, noting that while growers receive razor-thin margins of 50 paise, agencies often pull Rs 5 to Rs 6 per transaction. Shivakumar assured traders and farmers that the state government would investigate these commission structures to ensure a fairer distribution of profits.

Key focus areas highlighted during the visit include:

 Middleman Commission Regulation: A planned review of fee structures and MC deductions.

 Yard Infrastructure: Assessment of parking tenders, sanitation, and public toilet maintenance.

 Worker Welfare: Consideration of housing assistance and social security coverage for market porters and women labourers.

Following his inspection, the Chief Minister shared breakfast with market porters and announced that cabinet ministers across Karnataka would soon conduct similar surprise checks at APMC yards in their respective districts to improve statewide transparency.