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!
*****