Trade unions hold protest in Jammu

Different trade unions, bank employees and Anganwari workers, today held protests in support of their demands including job security for unorganized workers, implementation of labour laws and Minimum Wages Act and release of salary and arrears.

Central Trade Unions including BMS, INRUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS, organized a joint protest rally in support of their demands including price rise and universalization of Public Distribution System, job protection, enforcement of labour laws, social security for unorganized workers, disinvestment in PSU’s and minimum wages. The protest rally was led by CITU state president and MLA, M Y Tarigami in which hundreds of activists holding placards and banners participated in the rally that took off at Bikram Chowk and culminated at Indira Chowk.

The activists raised slogans against the government for its anti-people decisions and demanded bonus, Provident Fund and increase in quantum of gratuity. While addressing the media, Tarigami demanded curbing of price rise, universalization the PDS and complete ban on speculation.  He criticised frequent hike in the prices of essential products, which lead to the overall inflationary trends, especially in food items. Speaking about the situation in the state, Tarigami said that rampant corruption is prevalent in the state, which is bound to play havoc with the state. He added that more that 93% of country’s workforce is in the unorganized sector but they have been kept outside the purview of most of the labour laws and do not have any protection in respect of working hours, minimum wages and above all kind of job security despite contributing around 65% to the country’s GDP.  He further said that the unemployment has reached alarming rate and demanded that labour laws be implemented in the state and minimum wages should be paid to workers. He also stressed upon the state government to increase wages and improve the working condition of workers.

Tarigami further appealed to the different unions in the state to come close to intensify their struggle for fulfilling their demands.

A similar joint protest rally of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) including AICTU, TUCC, UTUC, LPR and SEWA was also held at Jammu in which activists raised slogans against the anti-labour and anti-worker policies of the government.

The activists demanded concrete measures to contain price rise including strict enforcement of all basic labour laws, removal of all ceiling on payment and eligbility of bonus, Provident Funds besides increase in the quantum of Gratuity.

Addressing the gathering, AIBEA general secretary, comrade Arun Kumar Gupta said, “Five lakh bank employees under the banner of AIBEA support the demands of central unions.  The association also opposed the Khandelwal Committee recommendations. The association also demanded stringent measures to recover loans and immediate settlement of their demands that are pending for a long time.

Meanwhile, Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association (AWWA) also held a dharna at Press Club demanding release of salary/arrears and declaring of supervisors as government employees.

The activists raised slogans in support of their long pending demands.  While speaking on the occasion, Singh demanded that Anganwadi workerss and helpers should be declared government employees and promotion orders should be issued for the surpervisors as per seniority list and rule. He further demanded fuel charges at Rs. 300/ pm, rent payment, TA/DA payment for attending meeting, Teaching Allowances, uniform supply, pension and insurance without delay.

AJKHGWA also organised a protest rally to highlight their genuine demands especially the enhancement of salary at par with Punjab home guards. 

While addressing, HGWA president Kamla Sharma said that the Punjab government has been kind enough to provide better salaries to its home guards whereas the guards in J&K are being paid only 545/- per month which is injustice with J&K home guards. She further appealed to all the political leaders to render their support for those who have been performing their duties for the last more than six years

Those who were present on the occasion included Imtiaz, Mashgoor, Mushtaq, Gulzar, Javed, Jalali, Azad, Sayed, Bimla Santosh, Babli, Shankuntla and others.

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Jammu observes total shutdown on Fdi

Demanding rollback of central government’s decision of allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector, traders and shopkeepers of entire Jammu city today observed near total shutdown on the call given by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu and supported by political and business organisations.

All the business establishments including shops and malls remained closed throughout the day as the traders’ fraternity protested against FDI in retail sector. They observed complete shut down in support of ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by Confederation of All India Traders and Bharat Udyog Vyapar Mandal.

Protest demonstrations were also organized by various political organizations while Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest rally in the city. Huge deployment of police was made outside the newly opened ‘Best Price Shop’ (a Bharti-Walmart joint venture) to avoid any untoward incident.

All the main markets Kanak Mandi, Ware House, Hari Market, Pacca Danga, Raghunath Bazar, Gumat, Jain Bazar, Talab Tillo, Bakshi Nagar, Channi, New Plots, Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar while many other small markets in the entire city remained closed throughout the day.

Refuting the claims of central government of providing 40 lakh employment in the next three years Senior Vice president of CCI, Tara Chand Gupta asked, what about the four Crore people engaged in the retail chain of the country, who would be rendered jobless after the establishment of outlets of multinational companies?“Thousands of graduate and post-graduate degree holder youths have opened retail shops due to less job opportunities. After the opening of MNCs’ retail outlets, the unemployment problem would multiply and the government would have no alternative.

The entire Indian economy would collapse in the coming years if the central government did not roll back the decision of allowing 100 percent FDI in single brand retail and 51 percent equity in multi-brand retail sector,” he averred.

He said the track record of these MNCs showed that whenever and wherever FDI was allowed, it resulted in closure of local business houses by flooding the market with cheap foreign products. “We would continue our struggle and finalize further strategy after the meeting of all chamber members,” he added.

A protest rally was organized by Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) which commenced from Bikram Chowk. Carrying placards in their hands and amid raising of slogans hundreds of protesters, demanding rollback of FDI decision, marched towards City Chowk.

CITU state general secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing the protesters at City Chowk, termed the decision of Union government as anti-people which would render 4.4 Crore retailers of the country jobless. “FDI would snatch the livelihood of small retailers in the entire country including J&K where thousands of shopkeepers and retailers have opened shops as a means of livelihood due to lack of job opportunities,” he said.

Tarigami said that the decision of the centre would ruin the lives of millions of retailers and people engaged in the retail chain as well as the farmers due to the monopoly of MNCs on retail trade and lack of regulatory mechanism. Secretary Om Prakash, CPI (M) regional secretary Sham Prasad Kesar and Romesh Chand also addressed the rally.

Activists of Hindustan Shiv Sena (HSS) organized a protest demonstration at Hari Market. “The bandh is an eye-opener for those who are still sleeping over the issue. The protests will be intensified in the coming days if no final decision was taken by the government,” HSS national president Dimpy Kohli said.

Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha activists protested in front of the ‘Best Price Shop’ near Toph-bridge. Huge deployment of police force foiled their attempt to enter the premises of BPS. Amid chanting of slogans the protesters continued sloganeering for few minutes and left the venue. Bhartiya Janata Party activists also held a protest demonstration at Raghunath Market this morning against the decision of FDI in retail.

Complete shutdown was observed in Udhampur city while Kathua observed partial shutdown. In the other districts of Jammu region there was no impact of shutdown call given by Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In Udhampur town complete shutdown was observed over the call given by Udhampur Vayapar Mandal. All the business establishments remained closed throughout the day. The protesters assembled at Indira Chowk this morning and held protest demonstration against the decision of the centre under the chairmanship of Vayapar Mandal Pradhan. The shutdown call was also supported by Bhartiya Janta Party and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party.

In Kathua, there was mixed response to the shutdown call. Few shops were closed in Kathua city while Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha activists held a protest demonstration against the government.As per the reports pouring from other district and tehsil headquarters there was no response to the shutdown call in Samba, R S Pura, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Bhaderwah areas.