Port Blair, Sept 02: Andaman and Nicobar State Committee of the CITU has organized Mass Dharna, Processions and Public Meetings throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in support of the All India Strike of the central trade unions and employees’ organizations today to protest against the anti-working class policies of the central government.
At Port Blair, a Mass Dharna was organized at Tiranga Park, participated by government employees and workers. Inaugurating the Mass Dharna, B.Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU State Committee criticized the central government for amending the labour laws in favour of corporate houses and multi-national companies.
He condemned the lethargic attitude adopted by a number of government departments under the A & N Administration towars resolving the demands raised by the Unions of workers working under it. Shri D. Laxman Rao, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Committee while addressing the gathering said that the NDA government at the Centre has miserably failed to address the problems being faced by the islanders.
NGOs’ Association leaders Shri GP Mondal and Shri SL Vinjit also addressed the gathering. Later in the evening, a massive procession was taken out at the Port Blair town in which, despite heavy rain, a large number of employees and workers participated. The procession was led by Shri M. Boominathan, President of CITU A & N State Committee and Shri P. Sathyapal, President and Shri SN Mishra, Vice President and Shri TS Sreekumar, General Secretary of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association.
At Diglipur, mass dharna was organized in which large number of workers and employees participated which was led by Shri Madan Mohan Das, Secretary, CITU North Andaman Zonal Committee, Smt Rukdhani Toppo, Shri Barun Biswas, CITU leaders and Shri S. Arumugam, Shri Deepak Karmakar and Shri GC Dey, leaders of NGOs’ Association.
At Billiground mass procession was organized in which government employees and workers participated. Shri S. Bawali and Gopikulam led the programme. At Rangat, a mass demonstration was held in front of the office of the Assistant Commissioner, participated by workers and employees. Shri VK Krishnadas and Karuppaiah, CITU leaders and Shri Adaickan and Shri Suresh Kumar led the programme.
At Baratang, massive procession was taken out in which a large number of workers participated which was led by Shri Daniel Aint, Vice President, CITU and Shri Jayakumar. At Kadamtala, massive procession was taken out in which considerable number of workers participated which was led by Smt Shipra Bala, CITU State Committee Member.
The issues highlighted during the All India Strike by central trade unions include (1) urgent measures to contain price rise (2) measures to contain rising unemployment in the country (3) minimum wages of Rs. 18,000/- per month for all workers, (4) stoppage of contractorisation of permanent and perennial nature of work and payment of same wages and benefits for contract workers also (5) strict enforcement of all basic labour laws (6) social security cover for all workers and minimum pension of Rs. 3,000 per month wherever it is less than Rs. 3000. (7) Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity (8) Stoppage of disinvestment in central/state PSUs, against FDI in Railways, Insurance and Defence (9) to scrap New Pension Scheme (10) remove ceiling on compassionate ground appointments (11) Lift ban on creation of posts and fill up all vacant posts, etc.
