Port Blair, Nov 26: In support of the one-day All India Strike, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and government employees’ organizations today organized mass dharna and public meetings in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The main programme was held at Tiranga Park, Aberdeen Bazar, Port Blair where workers and employees from various unions and Associations staged Mass Dharna from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Addressing the participants, Shri B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee criticized the central government for pursuing various anti-working class policies and dealt in detail the struggles conducted by the trade unions during the last two decades. He said that the BJP government is bent upon to privatise to all the central public sector undertakings and government departments one by one. Banks, Insurance Companies, BSNL, Air India, and even the profit making public sector undertakings in the oil sector are also on the sale. The Indian Railway is going to be privatized in phased manner.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri TS Sreekumar, General Secretary, Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association said that all the central trade unions in the country have come together to voice their protest against the anti-working class policies of the government which affect all sections of the people. He said that the central government is fast moving towards privatization and outsourcing of government work. Shri SP Kalairajan, Vice President, CITU State Committee and Shri Avinash Upadhyay (Telecom Union) also addressed the gathering at Tiranga Park.
Similar programmes were organized at various outstations. At Campbell Bay, mass dharna was organized which was led by Shri Dhandapani. At katchal, demonstration was held which was led by Shri Rajesh Khanna. At Baratang, the demonstration by APWD and Forest Workers was held at Nilambur which was led by Shri Daniel Aint and Shri Hari. At Nimbudera, mass demonstration was organized by the workers under the leadership of Shri Boominathan. At Diglipur, the mass demonstration was held at Diglipur bazaar in which large number of workers participated. Shri Barun Biswas led the programme.
Employees of Postal Department observed complete strike in the islands. Employees of BSNL also observed strike in the islands. Workers of ASNVMS (PWD Union) staged demonstration in front of the Central Store of APWD at Phoenix Bay.
The demands highlighted by the central trade unions during the nation-wide strike were (1) Cash transfer of Rs 7500 per month for all non income tax paying families, (2) 10 kg free ration per person per month to all needy, (3) Expansion of MGNREGA to provide 200 days’ work in a year in rural areas at enhanced wages; extension of employment guarantee to urban areas, (4) Withdraw all anti farmer laws and anti worker labour codes, (5) Stop privatisation of public sector including the financial sector and stop corporatisation of Govt run manufacturing and service entities like Railways, Ordinance Factories, Ports etc. (6) Withdraw the draconian circular on forced premature retirement of Government & PSU Employees and (7) Provide Pension to all, scrap NPS and restore earlier Pension, improve EPS-95. Besides, central government employees organisations and organisations of bank, insurance, telecom and PSU employees highlighted various demands relating to their sectors during the strike.
