Mass Struggle
CITU holds 6th State Conference
Urges the working class to oppose ‘anti-labour, anti-people policies of the government
Jammu December 13: 6th state conference of CITU J&K was held on December 11-12,2022, at Trikuta Palace Sham Prasad Kesar Memorial Hall in Jammu which was attended by more than 200 people. The conference deliberated upon various issues and problems confronting the working class, with the determination to intensify struggles to fight the anti-working class and anti-people policies of the government.
The conference was presided over by a presidium consisting of M.Y. Tarigami state president CITU, Hari Singh Treasurer, Muzafar Wani Vice president, Jagdish Sharma Secretary, Misra Bano President ASHA Workers Union Kashmir and Suraya General Secretary Anganwari Workers Union(J&K).
K Hemlata National President CITU, in her inaugural address stated that on the occasion of the historic nationwide strike on November 26, 2020, the decisive farmer’s movement and the historical support of the workers has laid the foundation for the widespread unity of the workers’ unions in the country. She said that because of this unity, today, anti-people policies can be changed and public welfare policies can be implemented. She said that labourers,working class is the most sufferers because of Modi government’s anti-workers policies and the government is working for the capitalist, and big business houses, their earnings and profits have gone multi-times high while the poor workers are facing unemployment, exploitation and recession. She also called upon the workers to participate in the kisan mazdoor rally which will be held at Delhi on 5th of April,2023 at the beginning of the budget session in the parliament.
Expressing serious concern over the government’s failure to fulfill its promise of regularizing daily wagers/casual labourers, scheme workers, contractual and others, working in various departments, she said these poor people are already suffering due to the non-payment of wages for months together. The Mid Day Meal Scheme delivers basic services of nutrition and CPWs work in schools but these workers are not being paid minimum wages nor do they have any social security benefits. In the name of ‘honorarium’ or ‘incentive’ they are paid a pittance as low as Rs.1000 per month for ten months a year. She demanded regulzation of these workers and said that these should be covered under social security.
While addressing the concluding session M.Y Tarigami President CITU J&K said that there are many challenges before the working class of the country. We have to increase our organizational strength to fight these challenges. Strengthening the democratic functioning from the primary unit to the state committee, such an environment has to be created that every member of CITU can see the environment as his own home in the organisation/union and every member can openly put their point on the table. He said that CITU is a fighting organisation in the whole country. Due to Corona pandemic, there was a decline in the membership, therefore membership will have to be increased. He called for intensifying the struggle to compel the government to reverse the privatisation policies and implement alternative policies.
Dr. Kashmir Singh, National Secretary of CITU said on this occasion that there was a little hike in minimum wages with no bonus. Daily wagers,casuals, contractuals,need based and scheme workers are waiting for their regularization. He called upon all the workers of the region to intensify the struggle in support of their demands.
The General Secretary report was placed by Om Parkash, General Secretary CITU J&K. A total of 17 delegates including 07 women participated in the discussion. Supporting the report, the delegates participating in the debate said that coordination units should be formed at the village/mohalla level to organize trade union education of union-wise workers from block to state level, to create unity among workers at the grassroots level.
Resolutions on price rise, education & employment, regualrisation of daily wages/casual/temporary workers working in different departments of J&K, domestic violence against women, granting statehood to J&K and Ladakh, guaranteeing minimum support price and ration distribution system, containing price rise, unemployment, minimum wages upto Rs.26000/-, and stopping disinvestment in PSUs were adopted in the conference.
A total of 136 delegates including 42 women participated in the conference among them about 80 delegates were below 50 years of age. The conference unanimously elected 11 office bearers and 22 committee members. M. Y Tarigami was re-elected as President, Om Parkash as Working President, Jagdish Sharma as General Secretary, Abdul Rashid as Assistant General Secretary and B. K. Vaid as treasurer, Mishra Bano, Muzafar Wani as vice presidents, Jia Lal Parihar and Abdul Rashid Pandit as Secretaries. The conference also decided to keep one post of Vice President and one post of Secretary vacant to be filled up later on.
Earlier, a large rally was taken out by the CITU workers which passed through Jammu city and culminated at the venue of the conference.
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