The Hindu : National : Amartya Sen sees bigger role for unions

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Sunday, Jul 02, 2006

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Amartya Sen sees bigger role for unions

Staff Reporter

"They must steer clear of dogmatism or self-seeking"

Amartya Sen

Kolkata: Workers unions have a crucial role in ensuring that primary education and public health facilities of the highest quality are available to all in society, according to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

He was speaking at a workshop organised by the Pratichi (India) Trust, an organisation set up by him, and the Institute of Development Studies here on Saturday.

Cooperation

Elaborating on the provisions adopted unanimously at the end of the workshop, Prof. Sen said unions, students, teachers and researchers should cooperate to ensure that national programmes benefited those for whom they were meant.

Unions also have an important role in demanding active participation of the State to remove the inadequacy in resources that plagued the system.

Politicisation of unions

On the question of politicisation of unions, he felt that it was neither possible nor desirable for them to be apolitical.

They, however, should steer clear of dogmatism or self-seeking.

The participants included unions representing teachers and health workers.

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