Com Nirmal Dhaliwal, President and Com Bant Singh Brar, General Secretary Punjab unit of AITUC.

Ludhiana, 29.09.2012



We note with anguish that the UPA-II Govt. is increasingly working in the interest of big corporate business houses of India and the international cartels undermining the national interest. Latest decisions of the Govt. are enough indicators of the rightist shift in the policies detrimental to Indian growth and progress based on justice and equality as was directed to the national govt. by the Indian constitution. The Govt. is more inclined to respond to the demands of the international finance capital and the MNCs.



Com Amarjeet Kaur said that the rising prices of essential commodities is further making the life of common man miserable, the farmers suicides continue unabated in the wake of persistent agrarian crises and indebtedness of farmers a fact of gross failure of the govt. on that score, the job insecurity and the job losses on the one hand and increased trends of contractorization and outsourcing, contractualisation and casualisation of labour is norm of the day. There is attack on unionization itself and pressure on existing unions to suppress and intimidate them to contain their activities. The natural resources of the country are being put on sale to private companies- Indian as well as International on throw away prices. Bringing in FDI in retail trade will be big blow to more than 4 crore small traders, shopkeepers, marginal and poor farmers, other small producers of goods in home based and small scale industries etc. The government has been responsible for unprecedented rise in corruption at higher places with loss to national revenue and denial of rightful share of common people in the wealth being produced in the country. She further deplored that accumulation of wealth in the hands of few, whereas the vast majority is suffering under acute poverty and unemployment. The latest reports have indicated that 100 top rich families own assets to the tune of 16 lakh crores of rupees whereas 70% Indians are forced to live on meager spending of Rs.16.60 paise per day. With the policies being pursued will further hasten these gaps.



The govt. continues to act in ruthless manner against the common people and the response to people's agitations by the Prime minister and some of his ministers are arrogant to the core. This situation demands of people's response on wider scale to meet the challenge of policy framework of the govt. and seeking change of direction.



In this background the trade unions have come out with their strategies to fight the attacks of government on working people. National convention of workers organized by 11 central trade unions and other independent federations and associations representing several sectors of economy held on 4th September at New Delhi noted with grave concern on the government's non-responsive attitude to the plight of the working people and their agitations for a dignified life, decent working and living conditions, for meeting of the basic needs of their families. They have decided to intensify their joint agitations on the charter of demands which includes seeking check on price rise of essential commodities, end to labour law violations, for social security and pension to all workers, abolition of any ceiling on Provident Fund, gratuity and bonus, abolition of contract labour, steady regularization of them and equal pay for equal work, no disinvestment of public sector/ govt. sector enterprises and resources, national minimum wage to be raised to not less that Rs. 10,000, universal entitlement of maternity benefit to working women etc.



It is decided in the convention that 18th – 19th December 2012 would be observed as All India Law Violation Day and on 20th December there would be march to Parliament which will be carried forward later on through intensive campaign for organizing two days national general strike on 20-21 February 2013. It is to be noted that it will be for the first time in the history of independent India that whole of the trade union movement of all political colour and creed as well as independent unions will be acting in unison for success of this 2 days general strike which will be unprecedented as the economic crisis is also very grim and unprecedented.



Com Nirmal Dhaliwal, President and Com Bant Singh Brar, General Secretary of Punjab unit of AITUC said that the state govt. of Punjab is not following a different course as regards the economic policies in general are concerned. Rather it has been taking anti labour and anti farmer measures. It tolerates and permits communal activities of several groups reminding the dark days of terrorism which people of Punjab would never want to be revived in this land of peace and harmony amongst common masses. The people of the state while fighting against retrograde, anti people economic policies of the central and state govt. would have also to be continuously vigilant and brave fighters against divisive forces. They informed that several conventions will be held in the state on these issues, first one being at Ludhiana on 5th October where Com Gurudas Dass Gupta MP, General Secretary AITUC will address.
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