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Response beyond expectations: CITU

Special Correspondent

Normal life disrupted in Kerala and Tripura, little impact elsewhere

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

STANDSTILL: The taxi stand at the Howrah station wears a deserted look due to the CITU-sponsored bandh on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)-sponsored strike to demand a comprehensive legislation for social security to the unorganised sector workers disrupted normal life in Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal while there was little or no impact elsewhere.

Describing the response from the unorganised workers to the strike call as “beyond expectations,” the CITU claimed that about 4.5 crore workers had participated, though the total strength of the organisation is only 3.25 lakh suggesting that the impact would be more powerful if all trade unions could launch a joint movement. “There is anger among the people over the deceit by the Centre,” CITU president M.K. Pandhe told reporters here on Wednesday.

He said the draft Bill proposed by the Government, if tabled in Parliament in the present form, would be opposed by the Left parties at the introductory stage itself. Mr. Pandhe claimed that as many as 14 bills drafted for providing social security to the unorganised sector workers were rejected by the Centre, including the ones prepared by the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector set up by the Government for the purpose. “The national common minimum programme promises a comprehensive legislation for the unorganised sector but there is nothing comprehensive in the draft bill. The review of the bill as announced earlier this week is only under pressure from the trade unions,” he said. Mr. Pandhe said the bill should contain at least provisions like coverage by basic labour laws, scientific formulation of statutory minimum wages and its strict enforcement, provisions on employment protection and grievance redress, stringent implementation of the Equal Remuneration Act for women workers and floor level comprehensive social security benefits.

The CITU leader claimed that road-blocks, stopping of trains and closure of agricultural mandis and 20 Food Corporation of India godowns were the highlight of the strike but equally notable was the participation by workers in brick-kilns, beedi-makers, head-load workers, private transporters, those employed in the small textile units and toddy-tappers.

Unorganised workers in industries such as Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, HPCL, South Eastern Coalfields, Western Coalfields and other units also participated, Mr. Pandhe said. In Delhi, there was a good response to the strike call among beedi-workers, rickshaw-pullers, contract workers, and street vendors. Demonstrations were held at Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi Railway Station, and industrial areas.

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