Construction workers demand housing, welfare benefits, stage protest in Vijayawada

Construction workers affiliated to the NTR Building Workers’ Union (CITU) staged a protest outside the NTR District Collectorate on Monday (July 13, 2026), demanding house sites, enhanced welfare benefits, and improved social security for workers in the construction sector.

The demonstration, organised by the union’s Vijayawada city committee, concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the District Collector highlighting a series of long-pending demands.

Addressing the gathering, former CITU State leader Ch. Babu Rao said most construction workers in Vijayawada did not own houses and spent a major portion of their income on rent. He urged the government to allot two-cent house sites within the city limits and construct houses for all eligible workers. He also alleged that municipal land was being diverted for corporate interests instead of housing the working poor.

Mr. Babu Rao demanded Rs. 25 lakh compensation for families of workers who die in accidents and free accident insurance of the same amount for all registered workers through the Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.

CITU NTR district vice-president Donepudi Kashinath alleged that welfare schemes under the Welfare Board had been reduced and sought a white paper on the Board’s funds. He also demanded restoration of welfare schemes, health cards, scholarships for workers’ children, pensions for the elderly, widowed and disabled workers, employment generation, regulation of construction material prices and shelters at labour gathering points.

The union warned of intensified protests if the government failed to address the issues. Following the demonstration, union leaders submitted a memorandum and applications from workers seeking house-site allotments to the District Collector.