3 massive dharnas of workers were organized at Jantar Mantar in the country’s capital, Delhi.yesterday.They represented massive polarisation against the anti-people policies of the Modi govt.and illustrate the wrath of the working class whose lives have been thrown in peril.
Firstly, Asha workers converged from all over the country to stage a sit-in for their demands by Delhi Asha Kamgar Union affiliated AICCTU. For the first ever time, when there have been demonstrations against the new policies of the Modi government in Delhi in the last one week.
Another demonstration was organized by CITU with the slogan “21st November Delhi Chalo” demanding repeal of the anti-labour code.
The Third Protest constituted All India Independence Electricity Employees Federation staged a sit-in with the demand to withdraw the ‘Electricity Amendment Bill 2022′.
A large number of ASHA workers engulfing the whole country participated in the demonstration organized by Delhi ASHA Kamgar Union affiliated AICCTU. The organizers said that most of the ASHA workers had reached Delhi on November 19 itself, yet the Delhi Police prohibited the protest. Inspite of this obstruction, all the Asha workers arrived at the protest site.
The ASHA workers involved in the strike demand that all the scheme workers including Asha Mid-Day Mill, Anganwadi Mamta etc. should be awarded the status of government employees, a monthly salary of Rs 28,000 should be fixed at the national level for all the scheme workers. Guarantee of proper social security including pension should be ensured.
On the other hand, Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives’ Association of India (FMSRI) affiliated CITU organized a dharna against the new labour codes.
The members of the organization allege that the new labour codes introduced by the Modi government are a thorn in the flesh for the trade unions, workers and employees. Therefore these codes should be withdrawn immediately and SPE Act 1936 should be enforced.
The protesters say that the new labour code has been prepared with policies intending to suppress the workers.
It may be noteworthy that in this respect, on November 13, under the banner of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA), dozens of labour organizations, trade unions, tea garden workers, MNREGA, Anganwadi workers from all over the country organized a huge demonstration against the new labour code. In this regard, the delegation of MASSA submitted its memorandum of six-point demands to the President.
On the other hand, the third dharna was organized by the All India Independence Electricity Employees Federation, a joint organization of Dalit organizations. The protesters demand that the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 be withdrawn. Bidding documents that deny the rights of the states should be eradicated and reservation should be given to SC, ST and OBC in private power companies. Apart from this, the notice of closure of government power companies should be withdrawn.
The members of the organization believe that the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 strikes a lethal blow not only for the electricity consumers but also for the employees and engineers working in the electricity sector.
They said the central government is using the amendment bill as an instrument to provide facility to private households to supply electricity through the government electricity distribution network for electricity distribution. Therefore, AIPEF has demanded that the Central Government should immediately withdraw this bill taking into consideration the interests of customers, employees as well as engineers.
The protesters said that if the ‘Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2022’ is passed in the Parliament without the approval of electricity employees and common consumers, protests will spur across the country.
Significantly, the winter session of Parliament is expected to be held within the first week of November or December. The fear of the implementation of this new Labor Code and Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 by the Modi government is being foreseen by the employees and labourers. This is the prime reason why in the month of November, apart from Jantar Mantar, people are protesting for their demands at many famous picket sites in Delhi.In many ways these protests are an aftermath of the big rally by Mazdoor Aakrosh Samiti on November 13th against the labour code.
Whatever errors in political line of the leadership it was most positive to witness the relentless spirit and class consciousness of the workers from diverse sections to confront the merciless anti-worker policies of the ruling classes, It was an illustration of the striking capacity of the working class to deliver a mortal blow to the ruling classes, amidst the gravest of economic crisis’s .A manifestation of the resurgence of workers resistance to oppression.
A path should be chalked out to win over workers from revisionist quarters towards a genuinely revolutionary workers centre, with rage of workers against anti-people policies of govt intensifying day by day. It must not be allowed to fizzle out from due to economist tendencies within trade union movement. Political education is absolutely imperative of the working class on proletarian politics.
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist who covers mass movements around India
