Brace up to meet the challenges

                                                            -A.K. Padmanabhan, President, CITU.

Labour has not been on the Agenda of the UPA Govt., despite All Central Trade Unions and National federations of the country unitedly pushing forward an Agenda from 2009.  This was done through rallies, demonstrations, court arrest programs, and three countrywide general strikes and the last one being a 48 hour strike action covering all the states and almost all sectors.
But, all the pious wards of the Govt., including that of the Prime Minister on the justness of the demands and also the formation of a Group of Ministers (GOM) with all the senior most of the  Cabinet proved futile.  Not even a single productive meeting was held by the GOM.
UPA Govts., especially the UPA II was busy with the agenda of the corporates and international investors.  The blind pursuit of neoliberal policies alienated the Govt. fully from the working people and the downtrodden masses of the country.  And the Congress and its allies paid the price for these anti-people policies and the huge corruption that engulfed the UPA Govt.
                                                            NDA’s turn
Now, it is the NDA’s turn and their unprecedented victory, with the BJP attaining majority in the Lok Sabha on its own. The tone and tenor of the NDA govt. has changed within few hours of the swearing in of the Govt.  A Govt. “for the poor and down trodden”, started acting in the expected path of attacks on the working people of the country.
Prices of Petroleum products have been increased.  Rail fare and tariff has been raised days before the Budget.  Prime Minister and Finance Minister is talking about `tough and stringent measures’ and declaring there will be `no populism’.
In the same breath, they are taking about all out efforts for inviting investments, of “maintaining congenial atmosphere”.  The environmental ministry has declared that there will be fast track for all applications of investment.
On Defence related FDI issue, Commerce Ministry has demanded even 100% FDI in defence production.  On this, even the captains of Indian Industries have openly come out against 100% and wants restrictions, otherwise domestic industry will be in danger.  Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony has openly come out against more FDI in Defence production.
Even the Corporate Media has cautioned the Govt. on recklessly allowing FDI in defence and relying FDI in defence and relying fully on private or imported ammunitions. 
It was interesting to read Economic Times, editorially cautioning and quoting the experience of Argentina in the Falklands’ war against Britishers.  When a number of British Naval Ships were being drowned by Argentina’s missiles – imported from France – British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher could pressurize French Govt. to remotely inactivate missiles of Argentina!
Our neoliberals have no time to think about all these.  For them it is `hurryup’ time to pay back the corporates for their massive help of money and media power which brought  Modi to power.
It is sure, even before Budgets, that `Ache Din’ is not for the masses, who voted (though it is only 31%) for the Govt.  but to the corporates and investors.  Tough steps await the poor and down trodden.
With the threat of El-Nino and failures of Monsoon, agriculture is in peril.  All the Agriculture related actions are upto now limited to Sugar Mill barons and the price of sugar along with all other essential commodities are on the rise.
It is interesting to note that the Govt. is only talking about actions against hoarders and Central Govt. asking the states to take action.  No talk about curtailing the forward trading in essential commodities, which is the major reason for the Price rise.
The day the present Prime Minister’s call for action against hoarders and Black Marketers was published in the news papers, one National Newspaper in their `fifty years ago’ column had published almost identical  call of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for action against black marketers.  Such is the situation in our country even after 50 years!
Against workers
Central Government and the BJP led Rajasthan Govt. have started taking steps to amend Labour laws.  The Governments consider the labour laws, a hindrance to the creation of job opportunities. While on the international platforms, our rulers have no hesitation to call for decent jobs, within the country, they want to go back to the period of slavery and bonded labour.
In Rajasthan, in Alwar Dist. Workers in Rochee Brewery are thrown out  for observing May Day.  Management is openly declaring that they will  never allow a Union.  This, as we know, is not an isolated incident.  The situation in Alwar, which is situated in National Capital Region’s, Japanese –Korea Zone, is identical to the experiences of workers in Maruti, Hyundai, Nokia, Volvo etc. though located in different states.
Labour laws are meant to be the bench marks on protection of workers rights.  While the Trade Unions in the country have been demanding proper implementation of Labour laws, the efforts of the Govts. are to further dilute them against the interests of workers.  We also see that it is the Commerce Ministry and Department of Industries, who are proposing amendments to the Labour Ministry!  And Labour Ministry is prepared to follow them!
                                                United Voice of Protest
On 24th June, the new Labour Minister met the Central Trade Union leaders to discuss the “issues concerning labour”. All central trade union have squarely protested unilateral actions on the part of the Governments in amending labour laws. Central Labour Minister’s meeting was part of a series of meeting of `stake holders’ – workers, employers and State Govts.
In a joint memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, through the Labour Minister, Central TUs have demand steps from the new govt. to resolve the 10-point demands being raised from 2009.
The memorandum also pointed out that even the unanimous decisions of Indian Labour Conference, the highest tripartite forum in the country, are not being implemented.  CTUs  have  urged upon the Prime Minister, to ensure that Labour is accorded its due recognition and issues concerning workers are attended to arrive at satisfactory settlements.
The over all situation within a month of Govt. coming to power points out serious  attacks on livelihood of the masses and also efforts linked to diversionary tactics to divide the people by raising various divisive slogans related to religion, caste etc.
Ominous are the signals and the working people will have to brace themselves to face all challenges in a situation which is not at all favourable.  More and more mobilizations and  strengthening of class oriented and untied struggles and activities and getting rid of all organisational weaknesses within the shortest possible time frame  are  our Prime tasks!
                                                                        *****

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