Port Blair, Nov 14: The 3-day Mahapadav organised by central trade unions against the anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national policies of the BJP-led government and prepare for a countrywide indefinite general strike if the government fails to concede their demands at Parliament Street, New Delhi, from 9th November, 2017 concluded on 11th November, 2017. Workers from all over the country representing many sector – public and private, permanent employees and contract, casual workers, state and central government employees, banks, insurance, telecom, railways, defence, and the various schemes of the government of India participated in the ‘mahapadav’.
In support of the Mahapadav, CITU and INTUC jointly organised a Mass Dharna at Tiranga Park, Abderdeen Bazar, Port Blair on 11th November, 2017 (Saturday) from 3 p.m. onwards. The Mass Dharna was followed by a public meeting at the venue of the Dharna which was presided over by B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee. In his address, B. Chandrachoodan criticised the anti-labour policies being pursued by the NDA government at the centre and said that efforts are being made by the government to curtail various benefits enjoyed by the workers hitherto. Referring to the insensitive privatisation-spree unleashed by the BJP government, he said that entire banking, insurance, telecommunication and defence production sectors are going to be privatised in a phased manner and called upon the government employees and workers to fight against these policies. Addressing the meeting, Shri Gyan Prakash, General Secretary, INTUC A & N Committee referred to the hardship being faced by the workers both in government and private sectors in A & N Islands. He emphasized the need to have continuous joint programmes by all the trade unions. Addressing the meeting, Shri SP Kalairajan, Circle Secretary, BSNL Employees Union decried the importance given to private telecommunication companies at the cost of government-owned companies BSNL and MTNL. Shri SL Vinjit of Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association expressed concern over the non-fulfillment of the assurances given by the group of Ministers to the Staff Side during 2016 for upward revision of minimum wages and others issues related to the 7th Central Pay Commission. Shri P. Kannan (GEF) , Shri Mohd. Rafique and Shri Rasheed (INTUC) also addressed the meeting. A large number of employees and workers representing various departments under the A & N Admn, private sector and BSNL, etc. Participated in the Mass Dharna at Tiranga Park.
At Diglipur, Mass Dharna was organised by CITU at Diglipur Bazar from 8.30 a.m. till evening which was followed by a massive procession and public meeting. Shri Madan Mohan Das, Shri AVA Samad, Shri Barun Biswas and Shri Dilip Karmakar (CITU) addressed the participants in the mass dharna and public meeting. At Baratang, Mass procession was taken out at Nilambur by CITU which was led by Shri Daniel Aint and Shri Jayakumar.
