Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of Chicago in various rallies organised by many trade union bodies in connection with the May Day across the State today.
PCC chief G A Mir while addressing May Day rally at PCC headquarters here described labour class as back bone of the development and economic progress of the country and said that Congress is committed for protecting rights of labour class.
Mir said that Congress party has its existence in more than six lakh villages of the country and represents all sections of the society. He said members of working class 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 in the economic and socio progress of the country.
PCC chief said that UPA Govt had brought land mark legislation to the benefit and protect the rights of labour class in the organized and unorganized sector. He reminded that all beneficiary labour laws were applied in J&K during the Congress regime under the Chief Ministership of GM Sadiq. He extended full cooperation to their struggle for acceptance of genuine demands.
The function was organised by the INTUC led by its State president Shiv Kumar Sharma. A large number of labour leaders of the organization affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress were present on the occasion. Former ministers Sham Lal Sharma and Raman Bhalla also addressed the gathering.
Additional general secretary and former NC minister Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal recalled the crucial role played by labourers in shaping the public movement launched decades ago.
Speaking at a May Day function held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here today, Dr Kamal said the party will strive for seeking restoration of labour rights and implementation of welfare schemes tailored for them in order to uplift their conditions economically and collectively. Dr Kamal extended full support to the labour class and hoped that both State and Central Governments would work for their empowerment and economic emancipation by restoring their rights.
Former Ministers S S Slathia, Abdul Gani Malik, provincial president of Labour wing of the party and several others also spoke on the occasion.
Extending revolutionary greetings and solidarity to the working class and toiling masses, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today held a massive rally at S K Park Srinagar. The workers carrying banners, placards and shouting slogans in favour of their demands marched from the venue to the historic Lal Chowk.
CITU state president Mohd Yousuf Tarigami while addressing the rally said that the onslaught on labour class is too severe to get rid of it, adding that labour laws across the State are being brazenly flouted and the destitute engaged in Government and private sector as ad-hoc, casual, seasonal, need based, contingency paid workers and contractuals are facing its brunt. He said that those working under NRHM including ASHA’s, Anganwadi workers & helpers, Mid Day meal workers are neglected.
BJP State general secretary and MLA Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia greeted the workers of State on the eve of International Labour Day. In a message, he reiterated the Government’s commitment to establish the dignity of labour, to bring transparency and accountability in the enforcement of Labour Laws and to promote workers’ welfare through good governance initiatives. He extended warm greetings and best wishes to the workers in the country.
A massive May Day rally was organised by J&K Panthers Trade Union at Ramban today. Chief patron of party Prof Bhim Singh was chief guest on the occasion. He called on the working class, labours and farmers unite for the implementation of Labour laws including Minimum Wages Act which have not been enforced till date. Prof Bhim Singh declared a war against the Government if failed to grant all those civil liberties, right to wages and work for the labourers and farmers in J&K by the August 1.
A resolution was adopted at the rally demanding, implementation of Minimum Wages Act, release of all the pending scholarships and arrears of SC & ST students till March 31, 2015, regularization of services of 60,000 casual labourers, regularization of 28,000 SPOs, 3000 SSB volunteers, 5000 home guard volunteers and about 5000 contractual employees.
Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of Labour Movement who were killed by bullets in labourers May Day rally for equal treatment in 1889 in Chicago. Activists of National Mazdoor Conference celebrated ” May Day” as Sankalp Diwas with enthusiasm and fervor. Addressing workers, NMC leader Subash Shastri emphasizing the need to adopt a comprehensive policy to regularize the services of 61000 daily rated workers working in the various departments of the State Govt so that new regularization could become operational from June 1.
Meanwhile, former Minister and Congress leader Manjit Singh expressed concern over low wage and suffering of labour class on the occasion of May Day rally at Samba today. Mr Singh laid down stress on the constructive role of labour class for the nation which has been put to suffering in the absence of adequate wages. He demanded that wages for the labour class should be enhanced to Rs 12, 000 per month so that they can run their families in view of price rise of the essential commodities.
One day Rozgar Diwas under Mahatama Gandhi NREGA was celebrated in various Panchayats of district Jammu on the occasion of “Labour Day” by the RDD.
The aim of the celebration was to make the communities aware about MGNREGS employment opportunities in the Gram Panchayats, on spot job card registration for inclusion of new families/adult members, receiving work application from interested households on spot and to discuss the labour budget/Planning of works for the current month.
A programme in this regard was organized at village Mathwar which has also been identified as Adarsh Village under “Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana” (SAGY) in which local masses, members of PRI’s of Panchayat Mathwar, educational institutions, NGO’s, Self Help Groups and officials from Line Department participated. Resource persons enlightened and motivated the participants for their valuable contribution in making the village as Adarsh one as the scheme is really meant to change the face of village.
Nationalist Congress Party’s Trade Union also organised a function under the leadership of former minister Th Randhir Singh and projected the issues of the Labour class. The participated paid rich tributes of martyrs of May Day in Chicago (USA) and appealed the trade unionists to wage struggle for providing justice to the members of Labour class.
In Udhampur, 130th May Day was observed by the Indian National Trade Union Congress, Water Works PHE Employees Union Udhampur jointly under the leadership of noted Trade unionist Som Nath. The rally started from PHE complex MH Chowk and reached at Barrian PHE complex after passing through Town Hall area, Dabber Chowk, Mukerjee Bazar, Court Road, Salathia Chowk and Dhar road. They also held dharna on the National Highway for a brief period at MH Morh here. The speakers recalled the sacrifices of martyrs of Labour Day in USA. They also raised their long pending genuine demands.
Another program was organized by the Mazdoor Dastkar Union in Town Hall Udhampur under the leader ship of Darshan Lal. In Town Hall Minister of State for Finance and Information Technology, Pawan Gupta. Later former MLA Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia also joined the May Day function and rally of Mazdoor Dastkar Union and addressed the public.
NHPC Workers Union, Kishtwar also organised function under the banner of All India Trade Union Congress and paid tributes to the martyrs of May Day. Many project workers attended the programme. Former minister G M Saroori addressed the gathering of Hydel project workers and projected the issues of Labour class.
In Ramban, PHE Workers Union held a rally at Divisional Headquarters and paid tributes to the martyrs of May Day. The workers leaders also projected demands of the daily rated, casual, need base and CP workers.
All J&K PHE ITI Trained and CP Workers Union also organised rally at Adarash Enclave Trikuta Nagar Jammu and paid tributes to the martyrs. Tanveer Hissain union leader presided over the programme.
National Human Rights (Social Justice Council), State unit during a conference held here on International Labour Day, projected issues related to the welfare of this class. They criticized the Government for its new recruitment policy and its failure to provide relief to the flood victims and farmers who suffered damages due to hail storm, rains and floods. The speakers including M I Zargar, Giri Raizada, Sham Lal and others raised the issues of the working class strongly and drawn attention of the Government, seeking implementation of the Labour laws.
Jammu and Kashmir Co-ordination Committee of Trade Unions also organised rallies in various districts of the State and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Chicago. Mohd Maqbool, national secretary of AISEGEF and president JKCCTU addressing employees at Ganderbal in Kashmir criticized the Government for its anti-worker policies.
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