Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, May 1: Various organizations observed International Labour Day (May Day) amid lockdown maintaining social distancing and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Chicago.
To mark International Labour Day amid prevailing coronovirus pandemic, workers of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) unfurled red flags atop their houses across Jammu Kashmir as a mark of respect for the workers, who have lost their life during working across the world.
In his message CITU J&K president Mohd Yousuf Tarigami said that as COVID-19 lockdown has entered its second month across the country, the condition of working class has been affected the most. In J&K daily wagers, need based, seasonal, casual Labours, ASHA’s under NHM, Anganwadi workers and helpers, Mid Day Meal workers, CPWs, MGNREGA employees, contractual & construction workers, artisans are without wages for months and the current lockdown has worsened their financial problems further. The J&K administration must immediately release their pending wages.
Tarigami said recently J&K administration announced to release Rs 1000 in favour of artisans, who are facing worst crisis as like other daily earners, they too are almost without any work since last year. Rs 1000 is peanuts in present inflation and the government must pay them at least Rs 7500. Similarly, street vendors, private school drivers who are without work must be paid Rs 7500 so that they can sustain their families amid this pandemic.
Paying rich tributes to Zaldagar martyrs of 1865, he 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 said Central Government’s move to freeze dearness allowance (DA) of Central Government employees is drastic and will cause immense financial hardship to employees and pensioners. CITU demands immediate rollback of the decision.
Meanwhile, the J&K UT Congress complimented the Labour Class and other workers for making the lives of people easier and safer, describing the May Day as manifestation of their greater role and importance in the development of the country and its people. The party also vowed to fight discrimination and injustices against the Labour section of the country.
The JKPCC chief GA Mir has complimented Labour class on May Day, describing them as champions of progress and development of the country and the people as well. He laid emphasis over protecting and respecting the rights of Labour class.
Senior National Conference leaders expressed solidarity with the millions of workers across the country on May Day, saying this year the occasion is marked by unprecedented situation in the wake of lockdown due to dreaded corona virus.
In their separate messages, the NC leaders observed that the work-force in particular is facing a major brunt of the lockdown as every activity has come to grinding halt and many of them are rendered temporarily jobless. However, they exuded confidence about the situation taking positive turnout enabling them participate in nation building effort with renewed vigour.
“Though the May Day is reminiscent of the workers’ rights and societal response towards their well being yet there is greater need this year for the society to acknowledge its social responsibility towards these marginalized segments of the society”, Provincial president Devender Singh Rana said in a message on the May Day.
Various other senior leaders recalled the major role of NC over the decades in relentlessly fighting for the cause of the labour-class.
Senior leaders who expressed solidarity with the labour-force include, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Rattan Lal Gupta, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Kashmira Singh, Rachpal Singh, Abdul Gani Malik, Mushtaq Bukhari, Sheikh Bashir, Javed Rana, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Jagjeevan Lal, T S Wazir, Ajaz Jan, Satwant Kour Dogra, Nar Singh and others.
Expressing solidarity with the labourers, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) senior leaders today appealed Government to extend support to the labourers and needy people amid covid-19 scare in the Union Territory.
In a joint statement, JKAP senior leaders said that labourers have suffered greatly due to the ongoing lockdown in the country including in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the prevailing situation, they said, the Government should support the labourers and engage them within Jammu and Kashmir after they spend their all their savings.
They recalled May Day as synonymous to workers struggles and the subsequent empowerment in the late 19th century. In India, the labour class started observing May Day from May 1, 1923.
“The day is important because of workers struggle for agitation in the United States against draconian Labour laws, worker’s rights violations, poor working conditions, and dreadful work hours,” they said.
Those who issued statement include Ajaz Ahmed Khan, Ch Zulfikar Ali, Haji Mumtaz Ahmed, Vikram Malhotra, Kamal Arora, Namrata Sharma, Raqeeq Khan and others.
Labour Day was celebrated in the closed walls of every house of executive members of Vishwakarama Dogra Labour Union, VDLU (J&K) to commemorate those who sacrificed for the dignity of Labour class.
Kuldeep Chalotra , president of the Union stated that May Day is being celebrated throughout the world and in India. Labour is backbone of any country and it should be honoured. In India 70% of the population is linked with labour job but condition is not satisfactory. It indicates that Central and State Govt are not serious towards labour class.
J&K United School Teachers Association (USTA) also remembered and paid rich tribute to Chicago Martyrs on International Labours Day and highlighted the present challenges being faced by the working class in general and teaching community in particular.
USTA said that amid pandemic in the name of fighting coronavirus, Central Government is putting unbearable burden on the working class which worsen their financial problems. A joint statement issued by president Rajeev Kumar, general secretary Hari Singh, Yunus Rahi, Pradeep Singh, Sunil Thapa, Kanta Devi and Zulifkar Its members strongly urge the government to immediately withdraw its arbitrary and illegal decision to freeze the DA of Central government employees and pensioners.
While celebrating Labour Day, J&K Dairy Farm Producer’s Organisations (JKDFPOs) facilitated milk producers at Samba and Jammu and provided them monetary help in consideration of difficulties faced by them during the ongoing lockdown.
A handout stated that milk producers were also given free ration and masks since the lockdown started besides all necessary support for disposal of their milk production with help of Animal Husbandry Department and NABARD was also provided to them.
Highlighting the need for recognition and training of dairy works, Vikrant Dogra on behalf of JKDFPOs said, dairy sector alone is the largest self employment activity in entire country as per the data available with National Dairy Dev Board and same should be professionalized for achieving the target of doubling famers’ income by 2022.
Meanwhile, on Labour Day, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has expressed concern over the neglecting of thousands of workers of unorganized sector who are deprived from the financial assistance at the time of ongoing nationwide lockdown.
In a handout BMS has said that auto and taxi drivers, conductors, auto mechanics, vendors etc could not get any relief during the ongoing lockdown.
Ashok Choudhary, General Secretary BMS said as far as wages are concerned some industries are discriminating between workers supplied by the contractors and regular workers.
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