9일 세계노총이 <인도의 노조연맹들과 독립적인 연합단체 및 협회들이 <인도구원의날>을 위해 국가적인 방역제재조치에도 불구하고 당당하게 대규모투쟁을 벌인데 대해 축하와 연대의 인사를 보냈다>고 보도했다.
<인도구원의날>을 맞은 인도노동자・민중은 행진, 피켓시위, 단식투쟁, 점심시간선전전, 뱃지착용등 다양한 형태로 전국 각지에서 투쟁을 전개했다.
보도는 <투쟁은 인도의 집권여당인 인도인민당이 2014년5월 정부의 반노동・반민중・반국가적 <기밀유지협약>을 주도함에 따라 민생파탄에 이르렀으나, 2019년5월 국회의 다수당이 된데 따라 지난해 처음 8월9일을 <인도구원의날>로 정하면서 시작됐다>고 전했다.
이어서 <인도인민당정부는 노동자, 농민을 비롯한 민중의 이익에는 관심이 없는것이 분명하다>고 비판했다.
<인도구원의날>투쟁 참가자들은 <반노동법률 철폐! 반민중적 농민법・전기세 폐지!>등 13개의 요구사항을 내걸고 투쟁했다.
다음은 보도의 전문이다.
| The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs), Independent Federations and Associations had appealed to the toiling people of the country to observe 9th August, 2021 as “SAVE INDIA DAY” and they responded magnificently in spite of the lockdown restrictions in several areas. The day was observed at more than a lakh locations throughout the country in various ways such as processions, demonstrations, dharnas, picketing, at lunch hour protests, badge wearing, slogan raising etc.. Some places workers and farmers jointly organized protest. It is to be noted that the trade unions had observed 09th August as Save India Day in 2020 also. This call was necessitated due to the bitter experience of the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre since May 2014 – its policies are anti-worker, anti-people and even anti-national. In its second term since May, 2019, the record of this Government, with brute majority in Parliament, is even worse. It is quite clear that this government at the centre has no qualms in sacrificing the interests of workers, farmers and all toiling and common people of the country for the benefit of the Corporates. Throughout these seven years of present regime’s rule, the toiling people faced increasing unemployment (especially women) along with loss of employment and earning having been pushed in to the situation of intensified hunger, increasing prices, lack of any social security, so much so that when the Covid pandemic struck, huge number of people died without basic medical attendance. The Government, at centre instead of protecting our toiling people, used restrictions on them – harshest in the world – to pass laws against them and in favour of the corporates. 3 Farm Laws and Four Labour Codes do precisely that and similar onslaughts are continuing in various forms. As a result of these policies, the toiling people were anxious where their next meal is going to come from while Ambanis, Adanis and other corporate minted huge fortune and a few of them are reported to have earned Rs.2 Cr every minute of the pandemic period! 140 billionaires earned 12.94 lakh crores during March 2020 to 2021. It kept insisting on privatising every government establishment (Manufacturing: BPCL, Ordnance Factories, Steel; Power: Coal, Electricity; Services: Railways, Air India, Airports; Financial Sector: Banks, LIC, GIC; Agriculture and Warehousing). The Government is not responding to investigation in Pegasus Spyware but using the logjam in passing anti-people bills, using its brute majority. In this ongoing parliament session Essential Defense Services Bill is adopted, disinvestment/sale of Insurance Companies has been decided. In Delhi the state unions gathered for protest at Mandi House to march to Parliament. They were disallowed to march, so they held their protest and meeting there itself. Those present and those who addressed the gathering included Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary AITUC, Harbhajan Singh, General Secretary HMS, Tapan Sen, General Secretary CITU, Rajiv Dimri, General Secretary AICCTU, Ashok Ghosh, General Secretary UTUC, JP Singh, President Delhi LPF, Anurag CITU, Santosh MEC, Srinath ICTU, Dhirendra Sharma AITUC among others. The demands of this all India protest day included: Scrap anti-worker Labour Codes and anti-people Farm Laws and Electricity Amendment Bill. Address loss of jobs and livelihood issue, create more jobs, enforce ban on retrenchment and wage-cuts in industries/services/establishments during lockdown or otherwise. Fill up the vacant sanctioned posts in Government departments, stop surrender of 3% live vacant post every year. Withdraw order on ban on creation of new posts in Government and public sector. Increase the budgets on MGNREGA, the days of work and raise the remuneration. Enact urban employment guarantee scheme. Right to work be included into constitution as a fundamental right. Ensure cash transfer of Rs 7500 per month for all non income tax paying families. 10 kg free food grains per person per month for the next six months. Increase budget on health, targeting and strengthening of public health system at all levels. Ensure non Covid patients get effective treatment in government hospitals. Ensure free vaccine to all. Scrap the pro corporate vaccination policy. Ensure availability of protective gear, equipments etc for all health and frontline workers and those engaged in pandemic-management work including ASHAs and Anganwadi employees along with comprehensive insurance coverage for them all. Stop Privatization and Disinvestment of PSUs and Government departments. Withdraw Draconian Essential Defence Services Ordinance (EDSO). Roll back steep rise in the prices of essential commodities, Petrol-Diesel & Gas etc. 13. Implement the decisions of 43rd, 44thand 45th ILC in regard to scheme workers for giving them workers status and social security. Ratify ILO conventions 87, 98, 109 etc. |