On Monday, November 27, at 11 am, a letter with demands was delivered to the Governor and the Chief Minister through the police officials. The collective demand on both present themselves in the protest spot and respond to the same. All day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, the atmosphere at the mega protest was electric with speeches, songs and slogans. The idea was to create continuous pressure on both functionaries (one representing the union government, the second, the state government) to come and publicly declare their stand before all sections of the protesters, workers and farmers. Response from the state government has so far been positive.

After 5 pm, a fire pit will be lit and all the anti-farmer, anti-worker, anti-Dalit, anti-women, anti-minority laws brought forth by the pervious central and state governments will be placed in the agni kund / fire pit and set ablaze as a mark of condemnation and resistance. Thus will end the second day of the protest.

On Monday morning, hundreds of IT employees under the banner of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) joined forces with other sections of the working class on Monday to participate in a massive protest march against the anti-people policies of the central government. The protest, dubbed ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo,’ culminated in a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Karnataka.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards, raised slogans against the central government’s policies, which they allege have resulted in rising unemployment, increasing inflation, and a deterioration in the living standards of the working class. They also expressed their solidarity with farmers, agricultural workers, and other marginalized communities who have been severely affected by the government’s policies.

“The central government’s policies are anti-people and anti-worker,” said KITU President Manjunath. “They have failed to address the key issues facing the working class, such as rising unemployment, increasing inflation, and the privatization of public sector enterprises.”

The protesters also demanded the repeal of the new labor codes, which they say have weakened labor rights and made it easier for employers to exploit workers. They also called for the implementation of the recommendations of the 12th Central Pay Commission, which would provide a much-needed raise to government employees.

The protest was peaceful but spirited, and the protesters remained undeterred by the heavy police presence. They vowed to continue their struggle until their demands are met.

The Karnataka IT industry is one of the largest in India and employs millions of people. The KITU is a well-established union that has been fighting for the rights of IT workers for over two decades. The union’s participation in the ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ protest is a sign of the growing anger and frustration among IT workers over the central government’s policies.

The Maha Dharani, being jointly organised by 58 organisations (including 8 farmers’ and 15 labour organisations), will be attended by farmers, labourers, Dalits, Adivasis, women and other activists from across the state. Alongside critiquing the Centre’s stance, the organisers will also pose questions to the state government.

Expecting over 30,000 people to participate in the Dharani over the course of three days, organisers have resorted to elaborate logistical plans. The ‘Annada Runa Swagat and Dasoha Samiti’, which is taking care of the food arrangements, estimates a sum of Rs 27,04,500 for food preparation and distribution over the three days. Finances are being raised by public funding and farmers’ initiatives.

Travel arrangements have been planned for participants through trains, buses and other modes of transport. Out-of-station protesters will stay at the venue on the first two days of the Dharani.“The first day of the programme was marked by flag hoisting on account of Constitution Day. With thousands of participants from across the state arriving on the Monday, November 27, deliberations against the 4 anti-farmer laws of the Centre will be held, along with questions being posed to the state government. After deliberations, a resolution will be passed about the Centre’s policies on the final day,” Veera Sangaiah, State Working president of Raitha Sangha (Puttannaiah), told the media.

While the organisers have obtained permission from the Bengaluru City Police for the programme, they are apprehensive of over-crowding at the venue which cannot host over 3,000 people. “Stating that this protest is not by political parties but instead by voluntary farmers, we repeatedly urged the government to provide proper toilets, drinking water and stay facilities for the protesters. However, we haven’t received any definitive response from their end,” rued Nageshwara Babu, working president of Karnataka Rajya Halli Makkala Sangha.

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The third and final day of the historic Workers Mahapadav saw more than a lakh women scheme workers on Parliament Street, Delhi demanding that they be recognized as regular workers. These are the poorest of women who are engaged as ASHAs  (health workers) and anganwadi workers/helpers and mid day meal cooks.

During 9-11 November, thousands of workers participated in the massive show of strength by workers from all over the country, fighting for a 12-point charter of demands including better wages, social security etc. and also urging withdrawal of anti-people policies like labour law changes, privatization of public sector, etc.

At the end, a resolution calling for workers to prepare for a country wide indefinite strike was passed amidst thunderous applause. A detailed action plan was also announced.

Speaking to Newsclick, Tetri Devi, a mid-day meal worker who came along with other workers from Munger District in Bihar said, they had been working as cooks in schools since 2005. Initially they were paid 25 paise per student and they made anything from Rs 45-100 per month. Even now they are being paid RS 1200 per month. They have come to Delhi along with others demanding “1 Hazar mein dum nahi 18000 se kum hai” which translates to ‘there is no use of the Rs 1000 that they are paid now; they will accept nothing less than Rs 18000 as minimum wages’. Similar sentiments were voiced by women who are engaged as ASHAs and Anganwadi workers.

These lakhs of workers were organized under various Central Trade Unions that had called for the mahapadav, barring the RSS backed BMS.

Various leaders from trade unions addressed the huge gathering amidst resounding slogans and calls for further action. Those who addressed the workers in the first part of the meeting included AR Sindhu from CITU, INTUC President Dr Sanjeeva Reddy, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of HMS and Gurudas Gupta of AITUC.

Sindhu of CITU, one of the most appreciated speakers, directly spoke of the issues of the women scheme workers gathered there. She started her speech by paying tributes to the 11 year old Santoshi who died of hunger as her parents were denied the PDS because their AADHAR was not linked to PDS system. She said that RS 1,40,000 crores Plan budget for ICDS, the scheme under which anganwadi workers are employed, was cut in the very first year of the BJP coming to power. She gave details of how in various parts of the country anganwadi workers/helpers and ASHAs were struggling to fulfill their important responsibilities despite being paid low wages and not being recognized as workers by the government.

THe second and the third session of the meeting was addressed by the leaders – Hemalatha, Tapan Sen – CITU; Usha Sahni, Amarjeet Kaur – AICTU; Champa Varma, Hanumanth Thate – HMS;  and from INTUC, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA AICCTU, LPF and UTUC that coordinated the three day meetings. The large gathering adopted an action plan for the coming months which included district level satyagrahas in the last week of January 2018, industry or sectoral strikes whenever the govt. announces privatization, protest actions on the day the Union Budget is announced, etc. The resolution adopted at the Mahapadav called for workers to prepare for a nationwide indefinite strike in the coming months as the govt. doesn’t seem to be willing to accept their just demands.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

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Thousands of workers assemble at Delhi to reject Modi’s all round failure to raise wages, control price rise and protect jobs, even while giving concessions to big industrialists and cronies.

As over 70,000 workers from across the country gathered at Parliament Street facing down police and paramilitary barricades, the historic 3-day mahapadav (mass sit-in) got off to a rousing start in New Delhi today. Under the banners of ten central trade unions and several federations of workers and employees, which represent the bulk of India’s vast non-agricultural workforce, they are demanding immediate attention to wage increase, price control, end to labour contracting system, strengthening of public distribution system, curbing job losses, and a stop to govt. policies of privatization, inviting of foreign capital, destroying protective labour laws and welfare cuts.

This mahapadav is not just another of those ‘routine’ protests by workers, that are as routinely ignored by the govt., the mass media and the urban middle class. What sets it apart and makes it historic and important?
 

1. It is the first big protest by workers in Delhi after Modi came to power in Delhi in 2014. There have been two country-wide strikes in 2015 and 2016. In terms of numbers and impact they were surely bigger events, with an estimated 1.5 crore workers participating. But in India’s new dispensation with Delhi and Modi as the centre of the universe, especially for the media, there was need for a show of anger and strength in the Capital. Also, it weaves together and unifies diverse strands of protests that have been going on for the past few years, including those by scheme workers, govt. employees, banks and insurance employees, public sector employees, etc. It goes beyond the usual dharnas and even single day mass rallies because the 3-day long event is designed specifically to give the stage to diverse sections of workers and show the resilience of their resolve.
2. The mahapadav is backed by 10 central trade unions with only the RSS-affiliated BMS out of it. This unity of trade unions, evident and strengthening since the advent of BJP at the Centre, is of crucial importance in the otherwise fragmented trade union movement in India. Several independent unions and federations have been drawn in to this struggle because of this unity. This means that the reach of the message of this movement is perhaps one of the widest ever.
3. The mahapadav comes as a culmination of a three-month long intensive campaign that saw a mass contact programme and public actions in practically every district of the country. Trade unions, especially the CITU, had published extensive material in all major languages of the country well in advance to equip its activists who campaigned in industrial and commercial areas, workers’ colonies, slums and other places of work or residence. Reports from different parts of the country indicate that the call for going to Delhi to protest against the Modi govt. was met with enthusiastic response from workers and their families. This is what became the launching pad for the ongoing mahapadav.
4. The Modi govts.’ performance in the past three and a half years is primarily responsible for the wave of unrest and discontent sweeping India’s industrial areas. Ever increasing joblessness has become aggravated by job losses in the past year fuelled by an economic slowdown, demonetization and then the GST rollout. This is happening in the context of tight-fisted policies of successive govt. who subscribe to the neo-liberal mantras of curbing govt. expenditure. Modi’s government has also wanted to push ahead with emasculating labour laws to rein in workers discontent and give more freedom to employers to hire and fire. It is in this backdrop that the call of trade unions for a strong rebuff was given and has received the huge response witnessed today in Delhi.
5. The mahapadav brings back to centre stage the struggle of oppressed and exploited people of India for a better life under a more just socio-economic system. It demarcates from the discourse of religious and casteist identities, actively being promoted by the Modi govt. and its mentor, the RSS. The campaign for the mahapadav specifically focused on the unity of all working people rising above divisive lines of identity politics and religious fundamentalism and in defence of religious minorities and, dalits and adivasis, which have faced increased attacks and marginalization under the current regime.
6. The mahapadav will also announce a next phase of action by the trade unions. In all probability this will be a general strike early next year. Workers around the country are eagerly awaiting the escalation of this struggle after waiting for three years and listening to Modi’s endless litany of false promises. This also has given the mahapadav a sense of purpose and expectancy among its participants.

It is expected that the coming two days will see an increased participation from workers already on their way to Delhi. The mahapadav is indeed turning into one of the biggest expressions of workers’ solidarity and striking strength in recent times. The Modi govt. would do well to heed the voice of the people – otherwise he and his govt. face a rough ride in the remaining days of their misrule.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

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The joint national convention of central trade unions and independent industrial federations had unanimously decided to organise a massive three days ‘Mahapadav’ near parliament from November 9-11. The ‘padav’ will be preceded by extensive joint campaign through state, district, block, industrial centre, factory level joint conventions.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

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