The Wayanad Press Club, on January 17, received a pamphlet from the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) criticising the Government for what it termed a nominal hike in wages of plantation workers, reports The Hindu. “Many commissions had been appointed by the State Government to study issues of plantation workers. But no decision had been taken in favour of the working class. Whereas it had taken many decisions in favour of estate owners,” Ajitha, spokesperson of the Nadukani Dalam (armed squad) of the CPI-Maoist, said in the letter. While the Government had exempted agriculture income tax and land tax for the corporates, it only made a nominal increase of INR 52 in wages for the workers in the sector, she said. Such a decision was only to protect the vested interests of the capitalist class. The life of workers in the sector was in crisis now as prices of essential commodities had increased manifold since 2015, she said. The Government was cheating the working class. The pamphlet demanded land, house, and minimum wages of INR 800 a day for the workers.