Port Blair, Sep 26: The Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands organised a solemn function on 23rd September, 2017 at Crusade House, Port Blair to pay tributes to the Martyrs and victims of the Historical Strike by the Central Govt. Employees and Workers on 19th September, 1968. Shri Santosh Kumar Dey and Shri K.G.Das, leaders of the Association at the time of the Strike, were honoured in the meeting for their participation in the agitation in support of the 1968 strike.Port Blair, Sep 26: The Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands organised a solemn function on 23rd September, 2017 at Crusade House, Port Blair to pay tributes to the Martyrs and victims of the Historical Strike by the Central Govt. Employees and Workers on 19th September, 1968. Shri Santosh Kumar Dey and Shri K.G.Das, leaders of the Association at the time of the Strike, were honoured in the meeting for their participation in the agitation in support of the 1968 strike.
On the occasion, a seminar was also organised on the topic : “1968 Strike – A Turning Point in the history of Struggles, of Central Govt. Employees and workers. Inaugurating the seminar Shri K.G.Das, a former leader of the Association, underlined the importance of 1968 strike. He said the main demands of the strike were implementation of need based minimum wage and full neutrilization of rise of prices. He recalled about represseive attitude of the Administration those days and arrest of some leaders at Port Blair in connection with the agitation in support of the strike.
Shri Santosh Kumar Dey, another veteran leader reminisced about the leadership of the legendary leader PKS Prasad in organising the teritorry wide agitation braving victimisation and warning from the authorities.
Participating in the Seminar, Shri D.Ayyappan, General Seecretary, A & N Gaztted Officers’ Association, explained about the repressive actions ordered by the then government at the Centre against its own employees and workers in connection with the strike. He said 17 employees were brutally killed in the firing by police and Army on the day of strike and tens of thousands of employees were suspended or terminated in the name of their participation in the strike.
Concluding the Seminar, Shri T.S.Sreekumar, General Secreatary paid rich tributes to 17 Martyrs and all other employees and workers who were victimised for their participation in the strike demanding basic issues like need based minimum wage. He also said the strike organised by employees and workers on 19th September, 1968 was historical not only due to its successful organisation but also because it gave a new direction to employees movement and national politics itself.
Shri Gopal Chandra Dey, Shri S.L.Vinjit also participated in the seminar. Shri S.N.Mishra, Vice President of the Association welcomed the participants while Shri P.Satyapal, President proposed Vote of Thanks.
