Port Blair, June 21: A meeting of the extended CITU State Secretariat was held on 20th June, 2020 at Crusade House, Phoenix Bay, Port Blair. The meeting reviewed the situation in the islands during the COVID -19 lockdown and observed that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has completely failed to provide the desired relief to the workers including migrant workers and other islanders. Thousands of workers both in organized and unorganized sectors remained without any financial help from the government during the pandemic lockdown. Only the workers who were enrolled as Members of the Construction Workers Welfare Board were provided with a small financial relief, that too with the continuous follow up by the CITU.
The meeting particularly expressed concern over the difficulties being faced by the people due to scarcity of water as the water is now being supplied by the PBMC/APWD once in a week, that too in a small quantity. The women and children are the worst sufferers due to the non-availability of water and the authorities in the Administration and elected representatives in the PBMC and Panchayat-raj institutions have failed to make alternative arrangements to provide sufficient water even though the private tankers were supplying the water on exorbitant price without any control. The meeting observed with concern that even after 73 years of independence, water is supplied to the people once in a week in these islands which speak voluminous about the failure of the planned development in the islands.
The meeting further observed with concern the unchecked spiraling prices of food items in the islands. The meeting decided to observe 3rd July, 2020 as National Protest Day throughout the islands at the call given by the central trade unions against various anti-working class and anti-people policies of the central government. The programmes will be organized by observing all the COVID-19 protocols and social distancing. The meeting appreciated the strenuous work done by frontline Covid-19 warriors in the islands. The meeting further decided to demand additional incentives for all the employees and workers who were engaged for the Covid-19 duties since March, 2020. Shri B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee spoke at the meeting while Shri R. Surendran Pillai, President presided over.
