Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: Internati-onal Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day was observed here today.
To observe May Divas, the J&K State Committee of CITU organized a rally comprising of different affiliated unions and associations including Railway Loading and Unloading Workers Unions, Asha Workers Union, Jammu, Anganwari Workers Union (J&K), Nirman Mazdoor Union, (Jammu), National Highway Workers Union, Industrial Estate Workers Union, Bhatha Mazdoor Union, Northern Zone Insurance Employees’ Association, IIIM Workers Union, Chenab Valley Hydro Power Project Workers Union, Railways Northern Zone Contract Workers Union, Hindustan Coca Cola Workers Union, Sudhir Generator Workers Union at press club, Jammu. The workers holding red flags, banners and placards in their hands raised slogans for the unity and integrity of the working class. The rally passed through Dogra Chowk, Jewel Chowk, Gumat Bazaar and culminated at Indira Chowk. Om Parkash, General Secretary, State CITU, Sham Parshad Kesar, senior leader of State CITU, Pawan Gupta, Divisional Secretary, Northern Zones Insurance Employees Association, Ramesh Chand, Joint Secretary NZIEA, Jia Lal, Vice President of National Coordination of NHPC Employees Unions and many others addressed the rally.
May Divas was also celebrated at Srinagar, Ramban, Kishtwar, Kathua, Reasi and Poonch by different union of CITU and the gatherings were addressed by Abdul Latif, Nisad Kazi, Rajinder Singh, Bodh Raj, Raj Kumar and Mohammad Aslam.
Labour Department Ramban observed World Labour Day at Kaskoot area of tehsil Banihal. An awareness camp was organised to ensure that benefit of welfare schemes reach to the genuine beneficiaries. Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC), Ramban Ganshyam Basotra addressed the gathering.
The martyrs of May Day were remembered in a meeting organized by the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh All Department Clerical Staff Association. Sukhbir Singh General Secretary of the Association, Ravi Singh Bhau, President, Ravi Kumar, Senior Vice President, Bashir Malik, Ravinder Singh (Planning), Yash Paul Sharma and many others expressed their views and also projected their demands.
Saying that National Conference has all along espoused the cause of labour class and strived for their welfare, former minister and Senior State Vice President Surjeet Singh Slathia recalled the crucial role played by labourers in shaping the public movement in Jammu and Kashmir as elsewhere in the world decades ago. “Labour force are the builders of nation and catalyst of socio-economic transformation”, Slathia said while speaking at a function held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan to observe May Day. State Vice President of National Conference Rattan Lal Gupta, President SCLU Nar Singh, Karan Singh, Deep Mehra, Vinod Tak, Chain Singh Dhatti, Thoru Ram Mandi, Baldev Raj, Isfaq Khan and other labour leaders addressed the leaders.
J&K United School Teachers Association (USTA) organized a rally at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park Kathua. Hundreds of Government employees, teachers, workers and pensioners holding banners and raising slogans marched toward DC Kathua Office and held massive protest demonstration to project their demands. Shashi Pal Singh, District Kathua President of USTA, Sukh Dev Singh, Shubnandan Sharma, Mohinder Singh, Bodh Raj, Ramesh Singh, Neelam Kumari, Kiran Bala, Sudesh Kumar and Rattan Singh Pathania addressed the rally.
Large number of employees and workers of different departments assembled at PHE complex Udhampur under the banner of Indian National Trade Union Congress. Som Nath, District President, INTUC and Senior Vice President of PHE Employees Association Jammu province addressed the gathering and projected the demands. SSP Udhampur Shailender Kumar Mishra was the chief guest on the occasion. Vijay Kumar Sharma, Rattan Singh, Suraj Parkash, Baldev Raj and many others were present on the occasion.
Provident Fund Office, Udhampur observed International Workers Day. On the occasion, RK Chadha, Assistant PF Commissioner briefed the participants about the importance of the day. Ajay Gupta, President, All Private Schools Association, Subash Sharma, Junior Assistant, industries workers and leaders were present on the occasion.
Jammu and Kashmir United School Teachers Association Kishtwar observed May Day. Provincial President Hari Singh, State General Secretary USTA Rajeev Kumar, District President USTA Siraj-ud-Din Ahanger, District General Secretary and Spokesman Chander Rathore, Madan Lal, Ashraf Hussain Sheikh, Abdul Ganni Butt and many others addressed the gathering.
To observe May Day, a large number of workers who have been denied wages by the Rural Development Department under various MGNREGA works for the last over three years held protest against the Government at Shahidi Yadgar. The protestors led by Labour Union President Mendhar Abdul Majid Choudhary moved to the office of SDM Mendhar and submitted a memorandum demanding release of their pending wages.
International Labour Day was observed in Delhi Public School, Nagbani. To make the students aware about the importance of Day, a special assembly was organized. Speeches were given by Khushboo Shaminotra in English and Sonia Sharma in Hindi highlighting the purpose of observing this day. The students also recited poems, followed by songs and skit. Principal RK Verma threw light on the importance of the day.
Indira Public Higher Secondary School, Shant Nagar, Janipur observed Labour Day with pomp and show. The workers and staff members presented cultural items. Principal Radha Padha and Managing Director Sanjay Padha enlightened the students about the importance of the day.
Young Students Movement, unit of St. Peter’s High School observed Labours day. Principal Fr Thomas Niravathu along with Sr Lizbeth Vice-Principal, Sr Jyoti Maria, Stella Alexander and other animators were present on the occasion. Dr Renu Nanda, HOD, University of Jammu was the chief guest. Various items including singing of bhajans, dance items and inspirational qawali were presented on the occasion. To highlight the team work of school workers, a game was organized for them and the winner were given cash prizes along with gifts.
May Day was observed at DPS Udhampur. The celebrations started with welcome address by Bhanvi, Senior Section Coordinator. A colorful cultural program was organized by the students. Pro-Vice Chairman of the school Dr JC Gupta, Principal Monika Sethi, Vice Principal Sucheta Gupta and CCA Coordinator Gurpreet Bagee were present on the occasion.
A special assembly was organized by Jammu Sanskriti School, Jammu to observe Labour Day. Students presented a skit and teachers enlighten the students about importance and relevance of the day. In order to mark the occasion the students of junior classes honoured the helping hands of the school by presenting them “Thank You Card”. Many games were organised for their recreation and prizes were given to them. Principal-cum-Vice Chairperson Rohini Aima was also present on the occasion.
International Labour Day was celebrated at May Fair Schools at Chand Nagar, Chinore and Janipur. The function started by welcoming the workers and acknowledging their hard work. Vijay Basur Chairperson, Abhey Basur Director, Anita Basur, School Secretary and Radhika Basur, Trustee focused on the priceless contribution of the workers for the smooth functioning of the institution.
Shemrock Global Public School Birpur Jammu observed World Labour Day with enthusiasm and zeal. The function started with a speech welcoming the workers and acknowledging their hard work. The group song marked the beginning of the programme followed by a dance performance. Director of the school Sunil Dogra and Principal were also present. Twenty five labourers working in the adjacent areas of the school were honoured for their services.
Jammu Sanskriti School Kathua observed May Day. Students prepared tea with the help of teachers for all the workers. Students also presented cultural programme. Special gifts were given to the staff by the management. Principal Shuchita Gupta was also present on the occasion.
The students of Doon International School observed International Labour Day. A special assembly was conducted, wherein students presented songs and speeches. Gifts were presented to all class IV employees. Chairman GN Tantray and Principal Vikesh Kaur threw light on the importance of the day.
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