Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, May 1: Various Trade Unions and Labour Cells of several political parties, paid rich tributes to May Day martyrs and also took out rallies across the State to mark the International May Day today.
On the International Labour Day, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) extended revolutionary greetings to the working people who have been in continuous struggle to defend their rights and livelihood.
Click here to watch video
CITU State president, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing workers in Srinagar said that working class should prepare for united struggles against anti-people onslaught of the BJP-led Government. ASHA’s under NHM, Anganwadi workers and helpers, Mid Day Meal workers, CPWs, MGNREGA employees, contractuals, construction workers, need based, seasonal, casual Labours, daily wagers are neglected and their long pending demands are not met. Daily wagers/casual labourers are awaiting their regularization although Government has issued SRO last year which is quite disappointing. He said harsh measures are being taken against working class across the country instead of addressing their issues. The administration is hell bent to take repressive measures, he added.
Tarigami said policies pursued by BJP Government have resulted in job loss and attacks on livelihood of common people have increased. The government is trying to promote such issues which create communal division among people. This divisive agenda of BJP government has to be defeated. Working class should realize that their unity and united struggles can force the government to concede their demands.
Paying rich tributes to Zaldagar martyrs of 1865, Tarigami said that they laid the foundation of a struggle against the exploitation and atrocities on the artisans, a prominent section of working class. He said that the Shawlbaff protest launched at Zaldagar against the ruling class has given vent to numerous movements of working class which are awaiting successful culminations. He demanded social security board for artisans on the pattern of Construction Welfare Board and weaver off ACC loans to them. He said that the social security benefits like pension, provident fund, health insurance etc. are hard won rights of the working class secured through decades of struggle and are now being snatched by the Government.
In Jammu, the workers from various organisations including Power projects, Railway Union, Asha workers, Industrial Estates workers, Insurance sector employees, construction workers etc under the banner of CITU took out massive May Day rally here today to mark the day. The rally passed through various bazaars/ markets of the city and finally culminated under the leadership of Om Parkash general secretary and Sham Kesar senior leader, CITU. The workers paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Chicago (US) and recalled their sacrifices for the working class.
The leaders of All India Trade Union Congress Council, Jammu and Kashmir paid tributes to those members of working class who laid down their lives on May Ist, 1886 in the city of Chicago( America)for the cause of labour class. On this occasion, SK Sharma, gen secy AITUC Council J&K addressed the workers rally at Dul Hasti Power Station and another at Char Chinar Kishtwar today. He demanded that 80 % jobs in power projects be given to local workers.
Industrial workers also paid rich tributes to May Day martyrs in function held at Industrial estate Digiana, Jammu. President of the Industrial Estate Workers Union hoisted the flag of the Union at the main gate of Industrial Estate, Digiana.Nirdosh Uppal, general secretary of the Union addressed the gathering and projected the issues of the working class. He targeted the Modi led NDA Govt at the Centre for exploitation of working class and providing undue benefits to the big Corporate houses.
Pradesh Congress also organised a function in connection with the May Day at party office Shahidi Chowk, Jammu today. PCC president GA Mir presided over the function while several senior party leaders including Sham Lal Sharma senior vice president, INTUC president Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sain Abdul Rashid DCC head from Rajouri, Ajay Sharma Radhey Sham vice presidents INTUC and many others attended the program.
While addressing the gathering Mir said that Congress party has its existence in more than six lakh villages of the country and represents all sections of the society and is always committed to protect the rights of the working class who are the back bone of the India’s economic progress and overall development of the country. He said Congress has always advocated the welfare of labour class. He reminded that all beneficiary labour laws were applied in J&K during the Congress regime and extended full cooperation to their struggle for acceptance of genuine demands.
PCC senior vice president Sham Lal Sharma asked the working class to remain united and cautioned them against the vested interests who are out to divide the working class for their political interests. He assured them that he will leave no stone unturned for the welfare of the labour class of various categories, for redressal of their genuine demands.
Senior PCC leader Raman Bhalla while addressing workers rally on International Labour Day said that Labour Day is a time to relax and rejuvenate. It is also the time to honour those who fought for the rights of the labourers and brought about reforms. It is only because of the few people who came forward and encouraged others to do so too that the labourers were given their lawful rights.
He said Labour Day is a special occasion when people worldwide celebrate the true spirit of the working class. It’s the day when workers get together and showcase their strength which indicates how effectively they can struggle to bring in positive reforms for the working class of the society, he added.
Former minister and PCC general secretary Manjit Singh accused Government of dividing communities for the sake of power. He highlighted the suffering of the labour class and unending suffering in view of lack of Government’s support to the poor section of society. He came down heavily on the Government with regard to the exploitation of labour class in the State, especially in Samba district.
“The labourers in industrial unite and other areas are unorganized and they are allegedly forced to do work for 12 to 14 hours with mere Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 per month,” he alleged.
He said the Government should shun the anti-labour class policies and frame a labour friendly policy for their economic and social welfare.”There is no job security to the labour class. They do work in harsh conditions. Their salaries are hardly hiked. They work in such a inhuman conditions which damages their health system,” he said.
National Conference Provincial president Devender Singh Rana while addressing May Day rally at party office here today cautioned the people against attempts of trampling the inclusive spirit of Jammu, saying the people won’t spare those trying to break their time tested unity.
“Duggar-land belongs to all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion and polarizing it for petty political gains would amount to discrediting its glorious ethos”, Rana said.
He said by sowing seeds of hatred, the self-styled Messiahs cannot break the will of Jammu people, who have all along stood for love, compassion and justice to all. Rana lashed out at the BJP for ditching people of Jammu and said its pretentions have fallen apart during the past nearly four years, as this region has suffered the most.
State vice president, Surjeet Singh Slathia castigated the BJP for anti-poor and anti-workers’ policies, saying the introduction of GST had jeopardized the interests of both-the entrepreneurs and the workers. “By promising Ache Din for the poor, the current dispensations at the Centre and the State have broken the backbone of skilled and unskilled work force”, he said.
Nar Singh, president SCLU, highlighted various issues and urged the leadership to take up these at appropriate forums for redressal.
Jammu Kashmir Rural Development Society also organised a function to pay tributes to the May Day martyrs. Former Speaker of J&K Assembly Mubarak Gul, who is also chairman of the Society was the chief guest on the occasion. The speakers threw light on the problems being faced by the working class. Ram Pal, former minister, KL Abrol vice chairman of the Society also spoke on the occasion.
In connection with the May Day, construction workers under the banner of Kissan Mazdoor Union took out protest march in Mendhar town of district Poonch today. They were protesting against the exploitation of workers and non-payment of MGNREGA dues. After protesting at Shahidi Yadgar for some time, later they moved to the office of SDM and submitted a memorandum.
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Unit Udhampur led by district president Som Nath took out May Day rally in the town today. Under the banner of INTUC a large number of PHE workers from Ramanagar, Majalata, Dudu basantgarh, Majori, Chenani, Kud, Lati, Pancheri, Tikri etc assembled at PHE complex Udhampur and then took out large May Day procession in the town. The workers also paid tributes to May Day Martyrs and recalled their sacrifices for the cause of working class.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Ravinder Kumar was the chief guest who recalled the importance of this day. They all paid tributes by observing two minute silence to the martyrs of 1886 at Chicago in USA. Som Nath submitted a charter of demands to the Deputy Commissioner. They demanded release of pending wages of daily rated PJHE workers, provide them much needed facilities, make amendment in SRO 520implement Minimum Wages Act, declare May Day holiday, hold DPC of employees in time, fill vacant posts and remave shortage of staff.
Mazdoor Dastkar Union paid tributes to May Day martyrs in a function held at Udhampur. The program was attended by several trade union leaders, social and some political activists. MLA Udhampur Pawan Gupta was the chief guest who addressed the gathering. Local leaders Brij Mohan Sharma, Vijay Manhas and Dr M R Bhamagi also spoke on the occasion.
May Day was observed under the banner of Non- Teaching Employees Association SKUAST Jammu in presence of KD Singh, senior vice president, Gurshajiwan Singh vice president , Zamir- ul- Haq general secretary, Bimal Singh Jamwal & Manzoor Ahmed – treasurers and Dheeraj Rajwal publicity secretary. The Association members besides highlighting the importance of May Day impressed upon the administration to resolve the pending issues of non- teaching employees.
On the occasion of May Day, various labour organisations observed the International Labour Day at Kathua. In this connection, the members of various labour unions and organisations which includes the All India Kissan Union, Kissan Tehreek Union , Democrat Movement, Labour Union Kathua sat on protest dharna at Irrigation office complex Kathua and District Labour department office complex. They raised slogans in favour of their demands.
Farmers Union leader Banarsi Dass projected the issues of the working class and criticized the Government agencies for ignoring implementation of Labour laws. Some other trade unionists, I D Khajuria, Mohinder Singh, Purach Chand amnd Joginder Pal also spoke on the occasion.
May Day was also observed by Pensioners and Senior Citizens Forum at Srinagar under the leadership of veteran Trade Unionist, Mir Ghulam Rasool Butwani. On the occasion rich tributes were paid to martyrs of May Day and their services to cause of working class were highlighted.
In his address Mir said that the working especially laborers still face the atrocities through the hands of capitalist class. He stressed a protracted struggle is need of the hour for the working class to get its due rights.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
