Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Nov 4: “The 15th state CITU conference will be held at Kundapur R N Shetty Kalyana Mantapa for the unity and welfare of workers from November 15 to November 17,” said the conference welcome committee president Balakrishna Shetty. He was speaking at the Kundapur press club on November 4.

“The conference will be inaugurated by CITU all India president Dr Hemalatha at 10.30 am on November 15. CITU national chief secretary, former Rajya Sabha member Tapan Sen and vice president A K Padmanabhan will provide guidance. CITU state chief secretary S Meenakshi Sundaram and CITU state leaders will take part. CITU state president S Varalaxmi will preside over the conference. 420 representatives including 130 women working in 31 districts in the state will take part,” he said.

“A public rally will be held from Kundapur Shastri circle at 2.30 pm on November 17. National chief secretary Tapan Sen will address the public gathering at the Nehru maidan. A welcome committee is formed of well-wishers of the workers, poets and pro people campaigners. Workers are working in villages for the systematic holding of the conference,” he said.

The Modi led government is attacking the workers groups after 2014. There are efforts to cancel 15 Labour Acts out of 44, merge the remaining 29 Acts and make the workers slaves of the capitals. Therefore, the facilities of crores of workers including those working in construction industry, Beedi industries, tile industries and other workers will be curtailed. People are being made to work for fewer wages in Bisiyoota, Anganwadi, Asha activists, contract workers, trainees etc. Though the Supreme Court ordered that Anganwadi workers should be paid gratuity, it is not implemented even after six months,” he said.

“Public industries that are the backbone of the economy are being privatized for the benefit of few people. CITU has held protests against them.”

“The farmers are not getting suitable price for their produce and have continued to commit suicide. The government which should have reduced prices has been increasing them by levying more taxes. CITU will hold discussions over their adverse consequences on ordinary people and will decide their campaigns during the next three years,” he said.

Welcome committee honorary president K Shankar, welcome committee chief secretary Suresh Kallagara, welcome committee treasurer H Narasimha and publicity committee’s Chandrashekar V were present.