Sri Vijaya Puram, June 15: The State Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has decided to launch a six-month-long outreach campaign across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to raise awareness among workers on a range of labour-related issues and concerns affecting both organized and unorganized sectors.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the CITU State Committee held in Port Blair on June 14. The meeting reviewed the functioning of the organization in the islands and discussed various issues concerning workers. B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary of the CITU State Committee, presented a report on the organization’s activities, following which members participated in detailed discussions.
At the beginning of the meeting, a condolence resolution was moved by D. Ayyappan, Vice President of the CITU State Committee, expressing grief over the recent deaths of three Indian seafarers in an attack on the oil tanker MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman.
According to CITU leaders, the proposed campaign will focus on issues affecting workers and their livelihoods and will seek to engage employees from various sectors across the islands. As part of the programme, the organization has decided to hold territory-wide demonstrations, processions, dharnas and public meetings on June 30.
CITU stated that local issues would also be highlighted during the campaign. These include the implementation of the High Court order concerning regularization of Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs), payment of 1/30th pay along with dearness allowance to DRMs, regularization of contract, outsourced, part-time and scheme workers, including Anganwadi Workers, Anganwadi Helpers and ASHA Workers, and ensuring compliance with minimum wage rates by private firms, establishments and contractors.
The organization further resolved to expand its outreach among workers across the islands and conduct awareness programmes on labour-related policies and regulations being implemented in the country.
Addressing the meeting, CITU All India Secretaries C.H. Narasinga Rao and Deepa K. Rajan briefed participants about various nationwide campaigns being undertaken by workers’ and farmers’ organizations on issues affecting labourers and agricultural communities.
The meeting was presided over by R. Surendran Pillai, President of the CITU State Committee. State office-bearers and committee members from different parts of the Union Territory attended the meeting.
