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Programs
:
XIV NATIONAL CONFERENCE
: A GRAND SUCCESS
The 14th National
Conference of AISGEF was held in Panchayat Bhavan, Hisar, Haryana from 15
to 18 December, 2011. For the purpose of this
august
conference, the venue of the Conference was named after the departed
leader Trade Union Leader of fame, Com. M.K. Pandhe, while the main gate
to the auditorium was named after another eminent departed trade union
leader M.R. Appan. Delegates and observers from all over India with
diverse language, religion and culture made the Conference hall a real
epitome of India.
On 15.12.2011, in the beginning of the conference, R.G. Karnik hoisted the
Red-flag and thereafter, the national leaders, guests, delegates and
observers paid floral tributes at the martyrs’ column. Then, a colourful
procession of the Delegates and Observers and other employees was taken
out from the Conference venue to the Red Square Market where the Open
Session was held with large participation. Members of various
organisations viz. SFI, DYFI, AIDWA, CITU, STFI, AIIEA and BEFI greeted
the procession en-route with the slogans of unity and solidarity.
Thousands of employees, workers and members of mass organisations welcomed
the delegates in a well decorated pandal. A cultural team from Rohtak
presented revolutionary songs.
R.G.Karnik, Chairman, AISGEF presided over the open session. R.C. Jagga,
Assistant General Secretary AISGEF conducted the proceedings. Phool
Singh
Sheokand, the founder President of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana and
Chairperson of the Reception Committee welcomed the delegates and guests
from all over country who attended the Conference.
Tapan Sen, Member of Parliament and General Secretary CITU inaugurated the
Conference. In his inaugural address, he called upon the working class to
unitedly launch relentless struggles against the policies of the UPA
Government which is dipped upto neck in loot and corruption, besides
paving way for widening of income inequalities, spiraling price rise,
formidable growth of unemployment. He insisted to launch struggles to
ensure a decent labour conditions and fair livelihood for every citizen of
India. He supported a strong Lokpal Bill and enactment conferring full
trade union rights to the working class in the country. He exposed the
motive of the Government to divert the savings of the working class to the
speculative share market for the benefit of the private fund managers
through the obnoxious PFRDA Bill and demanded the withdrawal of the same
to safeguard the interest of the employees. Expressing his firm hope that
the AISGEF conference would resolve to strengthen the unity of working
class to organise relentless struggles against neo-liberalisation,
privatisation and globalisation, he declared the commencement of the
Conference.
Dr. D.R. Chaudhary, former Chairman Haryana Public Service Commision,
Jagmati Sangwan, Working President, AIDWA, Pradeep Biswas, General
Secretary BEFI, Anil Bhatnagar, Zonal Secretary L.I.C. and Surender Malik,
General Secretary CITU, Haryana addressed the open session greeting the
Conference.
AISGEF leaders R.G. Karnik, Chairman, Sukomal Sen, Senior Vice-chairman
and R. Muthusundaram, General Secretary also addressed the session. Former
leaders of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Banwari Lal Bishnoi, Master Sher Singh,
Poonam Chand Ratti, SKS President Dharambir Phogat, General Secretary
Subhash Lamba, SFI General Secretary Vinod Deswal, DYFI General Secretary
Sandeep, Janwadi Mahila Samiti President Shakuntla Jakhar, former MLA and
Kisan Sabha General Secretary Harpal, DYFI State President Dinesh Siwach
and Rajender Sura, Chairperson Hisar Zilla Parishad were among the
important personalities in class and mass movement and eminent citizens of
the state who were present in the open session.
Delegate Session
The delegate session began in the highly decorated Conference pandal.
Afternoon session began with the constitution of different committees for
conducting the conference. Presidium consisting of R.G. Karnik, Sukomal
Sen, Lallan Pandey, U.D. Narsimhaiya, L.N. Kailashia, M. Shahjahan,
V.Gopal Reddy, K. Swamy Goud, Ved Prakash Sharma and Bhabesh Deka,
Steering Committee consisting of R. Muthusundaram, General Secretary, R.C.
Jagga, Smarajit Roy Choudhury, Assistant General Secretaries and all other
office bearers, Minutes committee consisting of R. Mukherjee, B.S. Sinha,
K. Liyaqat Ali, Jiwan Singh, M.P. Singh and R. Srinivasan, Head-Quarters
Secretary and a Credential committee consisting of Ashok Thool, Secretary,
Sameer Bhattacharya, Srinivasan, K.R. Rajan and Wazir Singh were formed.
In the delegate session, 1,364 delegates and observers from 20 states
attended the Conference including 196 women attendees.
At the beginning, condolence resolutions were moved by Smarajit Roy
Choudhury, Assistant General Secretary and R. Muthusundaram, General
Secretary. Two minutes silence was observed by the entire house. Then, the
General Secretary presented a detailed report depicting present
international and national scenario and analytical note on the struggles
world wide and the activities of the Federation since the last Conference.
In his report he reiterated that the existing exploitative Capitalist
System should be extricated and an alternative egalitarian and
exploitation-free Socialist system is to be installed by the resolute and
relentless struggles of the Working Class to give a viable solution to the
miseries of the working class.
Discussion on General Secretary’s Report
On the report of the General Secretary, forty two delegates including six
women delegates participated in the discussion on 16 and 17 December.
Almost all the speakers participating in the discussion recorded that the
report was comprehensive and appreciated and supported it. They also gave
valuable suggestions on strengthening the movement and organisation,
expressing their concern over the prevailing precarious conditions of the
working class and the inevitability of the united struggles of the working
class to alleviate the sufferings of the workers in particular and the
common people in general. A few delegates referred to the international
scenario after the set-back of socialism in Russia and subsequent
imperialist offensives. On the whole, the standard of discussion, held by
the delegates, was positive.
Special Women’s Session
A Special Women’s Session was held as a part of the 14th National
Conference on 17 December 2011. Asha Kalra presented the Approach Paper
and the proceedings were conducted by a presidium consisting of Sabita, S.
Tamil Selvi, Chabbi Ghatta Haldar, Ratna Sarkar, Pratima Sonare and Geetha
Gopal.Jagmati Sangwan, Vice President of All India Democratic Women’s
Association inaugurated the Session and delivered the keynote address. She
emphasised the need for a change in the social scenario and condemned the
discrimination on gender basis. 'Women are most deprived', she asserted.
Crimes against women inside the family and outside are increasing despite
development and modern education. She cited many real life experiences
with particular reference to Haryana regarding cruelty and barbarism by
Khap Panchayats, dowry deaths, rape, eve-teasing and problems at the work
places. She called upon the AISGEF and employees to come forward for
creating favourable environment for the women employees to actively
participate in Trade-Union and Social Activities. She reiterated that 33%
reservation for women in the Parliament and Assemblies be ensured by
proper enactment in the Parliament without any further delay. Asha Kalra
briefly summed up the deliberations.
Resolutions Passed
The Conference passed 18 resolutions on current and important issues.
These resolutions were on price rise, against privatisation of pension
scheme, anti-people industrial and economic policies of the Central and
State Governments, making the administration more people oriented and
fighting corruption, on neo-liberal globalisation, collection of
organisational fund, right to strike and against use of anti-employee
regulations, against privatisation of banking and insurance sectors, on
victimization, abolition of posts, contractual & work-charged employees
and withdrawal of economic and social security benefits, against price
hike of petroleum products and other essential commodities, on public
distribution system, on eradication of illiteracy and education to all,
representation in tripartite Indian Labour Conference, solidarity with the
workers and people fighting against imperialist aggressions, national
integration and against communal, caste, identity issues and separatist
violence and Repealing of Govt. servants’ conduct rules.
Besides those, one Policy and programme resolution exposing the anti
people policies of the Government and giving a clarion call for mass
actions to realize the charter of demands of the Federation and an
exclusive resolution for the successful observance of the Country-wide
general strike on 28 February 2012 called by All Central trade unions &
National Federations were moved by Sukomal Sen, Sr. Vice Chairman and
passed unanimously with thunderous slogans from the entire house.
Summing Up by the General Secretary
Before the summing up, Sukomal Sen, Sr. Vice Chairman rose to explain and
analyse the significance of some important developments in the
international situation, like “Occupy Wall Street” movement, recent
election to the Russian Parliament where Communist party has increased
their Parliamentary Membership by 2½ folds and huge mass struggles against
rigging of election by Putin regime and as widely reported in the media.
In summing up the discussions of the delegates, R. Muthusundaram General
Secretary put it on record that the level of consciousness and the content
of the deliberations were much improved. He appreciated that the
analytical deliberations of the delegates on the National and
International issues. Apart from explaining the points raised in the
discussions by the delegates he touched upon the various aspects like the
role of the Corporate Media, the havoc of black-money, crumbling of health
and education care, the carnage unleashed by the extremist forces, etc.,
he reiterated the unification of the employees, the democratic functioning
of the affiliated organisations and educating and organising the employees
on class basis and to launch united, militant and relentless struggles to
tackle the attacks unleashed by the Government’s policies. He stressed the
need for the improvement in enrolling considerable number of subscribers
to “Employees Forum”, the monthly organ of the federation from all over
the country in general and in the Hindi speaking states in particular.
While concluding, he appealed that the employees should come forward to
launch offensive struggles against the causes of retrograde and
reactionary policies of the Government, instead of the defensive struggles
against the effects of the Government Policies.
After his summing up, the General Secretary’s Report was unanimously
adopted with thunderous applause and standing ovation.
Proposals for amendment of the Constitution of AISGEF and election of
office bearers for the next term was moved by the Senior Vice-Chairman,
Sukomal Sen. He, in his speech, elaborated the situation prevailing at the
international and national level, emphasized the need for building up all
in unity and urged upon the leaders/workers in the house to unleash sharp,
protracted and united struggles in general and make the 28 February, 2012
countrywide one-day General Strike, a challenging success in particular.
Cultural Programmes
On every day of the Conference, in the evening hours Cultural Programmes
were organised. Cultural Programmes were presented by the teams of Jan
Natya Manch, Rohtak and Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samity on 15 and 16 December
2011. On 17 Dec. 2011 a team of Jan Natya Manch, Delhi played two street
plays – one against price rise and strengthening of PDS and another on
unorganised sector. The programmes were very interesting and educative. In
addition to this, delegates from different States presented their cultural
programmes.
Exhibition
Cultural and Exhibition team prepared and arranged an excellent exhibition
in the Silver Jubilee Hall of Panchayat Bhawan on 14 and 15 December for
delegates and shifted it to Krantiman Park on 16 and 17 December for
common people. There were very rich collections on 1857 Freedom struggle,
History of Haryana and Hisar, History of employees’ movement and the
activities of Sarv Karamchari Sangh and All India State Government
Employees’ Federation. Delegates appreciated the exhibition very much.
Concluding Session
On 18 December, the 4th and last day of the Conference the Credential
Committee’s report was placed. Thereafter, the following Office-Bearers
for the next term of three years as proposed by Sukomal Sen, Sr.
Vice-Chairman were unanimously elected.
| I |
Chairman |
: |
R.G. Karnik |
| II |
Honorary President |
: |
Ajoy Mukhopadhyay |
| III |
Sr.Vice Chairman |
: |
Sukomal Sen |
| IV |
Vice Chairmen |
1 |
Lallan Pandey (U.P.) |
| |
|
2 |
V. Gopal Reddy (A.P.) |
| |
3 |
K. Swamy Goud (Telangana) |
| |
4 |
M. Shahjahan (Kerala) |
| |
5 |
P.H.M. Ismail (Kerala) |
| |
6 |
R.Tamil Selvi (T.N.) |
| |
7 |
N.Chandrakar (Chhatisgarh) |
| |
8 |
L.N.Kailashia (M.P.) |
| |
9 |
Ved Prakash Sharma
(Punjab) |
| |
10 |
Smarajit Roy Chaudhury
(W.B.) |
| |
11 |
Sultan Singh Ola
(Rajasthan) |
| |
12 |
Kept Vacant. |
| V |
General Secretary |
: |
R. Muthusundaram |
| VI |
Assistant General
Secretaries |
1 |
Subhas Lamba (Haryana) |
| |
|
2 |
A. Sree Kumar (Kerala) |
| VII |
Secretaries |
1 |
Manjul Kumar Das
(Bihar) |
| |
|
2 |
Nirmal Das (Odisha) |
| |
3 |
Sunil Joshi (Maharashtra
Conf.) |
| |
4 |
Ashok Thool (Maharashtra
Z.P.) |
| |
5 |
Janardhan Reddy (A.P.
PSU) |
| |
6 |
Ramadhar Sharma (Jharkhand) |
| |
7 |
Md. Maqbool (J & K) |
| |
8 |
Bhabesh Deka (Assam) |
| |
9 |
Ananta Bandyopadhyay (W.B.) |
| |
10 |
M. L. Shetkar (Goa) |
| |
11 |
To be filled up
|
| |
12 |
To be filled up
|
| VIII |
Head Quarter’s
Secretary |
: |
To be filled up |
| IX |
Head Quarter’s
Treasurer |
: |
To be filled up |
| X |
Office Secretary,
Kolkata |
: |
Himanshu Sarkar |
| XI |
Cashier, Kolkata |
: |
Binoy Bhattacharya |
| XII |
Editor,“Employees
Forum” |
: |
Sukomal Sen |
Sukomal Sen extended his deep appreciation of the work of R.C. Jagga, the
outgoing Asstt. General Secretary of AISGEF. Sukomal Sen expressed hope
that the AISGEF would continue to benefit from the advice and help of help
of R C Jagga. In fact, R.C. Jagga helped the conduct of the Conference by
being present on the Conference dias throughout four days of conference.
In this session volunteers of Haryana were introduced to the participants.
323 volunteers who worked day and night for the successful conduct of the
Conference organised a march past amid clapping and slogan shouting. In
the end, Dharambir Singh Phogat, President Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana
gave a vote of thanks to all those who worked to make the conference to
make a grand success.
The elaborate arrangements made by the Reception Committee, and the
hospitality extended by Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana, were highly
appreciated by the delegates and observers.
The XIV National Conference of the AISGEF concluded with a call of Unity
and Struggles of all the Employees and Workers not only against the
neo-liberal policies but also to uproot the exploitative Capitalist system
and install in its place an egalitarian Socialist System which alone would
liberate the mankind from all the miseries of the Capitalist Exploitation.
This Conference inspired and enthused not only the participants, but also
the lakhs of members of the Federation all over the Country.
The XIV National Conference has imbibed in us a struggling zeal which
would inspire all of our preparations with vigour and enthusiasm for the
successful observance of the Country-wide Strike on 28 February 2012.
Let us leave no stone unturned for enrolling every employee to participate
in the Strike by giving wide publicity on the following five point charter
of demands to the grass root level
All roads should lead to the countrywide General Strike on 28
February 2012.
THIRD NATIONAL WOMEN'S
CONVENTION OF AISGEF SUCCESSFULLY HELD ON 15 & 16 FEBRUARY 2011
The third national women's
convention called by AISGEF was successfully held at Yuba. Bharati
Stadium, Salt Lake, Kolkata on 15 & 16 February 2011. 406 women delegates
and 74 male delegates (including National Executive members) representing
18 affiliates and 1 invitee of AISGEF took part in the Convention. 9
fraternal organisations also attended.
The convention got underway with the hoisting of the red flag by Ajoy
Mukhopadhyay, Hony President AISGEF. Thereafter, floral tributes were paid
at the martyr's column by assembled leadership and convenors of State
Women Sub-committees.
Inaugural Session:
As proposed by R Muthusundaram, General Secretary, AISGEF and seconded by
Smarajit Roy Choudhury, Assistant General Secretary, AISGEF, a presidium
comprising of Ajoy Mukhopadhyay, R Tamil Selvi, Asha Kalra, Sheetal Gupte,
Geeta Gopal, Ratna Sarkar and Jayati Chatterjee was formed to preside the
convention. A Minutes Committee was formed with Jaideep Sarkar and Khwaja
Moinul Haque for record of the proceedings.
R Muthusundaram moved the condolence resolution which was followed by a
minute's silence by the delegates as a mark of respect to the departed.
Thereafter, Rekha Goswami, Chairperson of the Reception Committee and
Hon'ble Minister of Self Help & Self Employment, Government of West Bengal
addressed. In her address, she spoke of the offensives of the neo-liberal
globalisation on the working people and women in particular. She also
criticized the Union Govt for not being able to pass the Women Reservation
Bill in the Lok Sabha. She also highlighted the achievements of the Left
Front Government. She also called for raising the voice against all forms
of social ills including dowry, child marriage etc on the 101st
Anniversary of International Women's Day.
K Hemlata, Secretary, CITU and in-charge of the Monthly journal 'Voice of
the Working Women' inaugurated the convention. In her speech she spoke
about the wave of people's protest against dictatorial rule taking place
in the Arab World. On the national scenario, she spoke about the efforts
of CITU in forging unity amongst various trade unions. That unity would
once again be manifested in the massive 23 February March to Parliament
called by the central trade unions. She illustrated the glorious example
of Kerala where even the loss making public sector units have turned
around.
She said that it is in this background that the problems of women are to
be addressed. The problems of women workers are not different from other
sections of the working people. It is not men verus women issue. This
message is to be circulated during the observance of International Women's
Day. Unitedly we have to fight for removal of exploitation from society
she said.
Minati Ghosh, General Secretary, All India Democratic Womens' Association,
West Bengal and Nupur Basu of Bank Employees' Federation of India also
addressed the convention and called for united movement to defeat the
policies of neo-liberal globalization and safeguard the rights of the
working people.
The Discussion Paper of the Convention was placed by Tamil Selvi in
English and Shipra Singh in Hindi. Thereafter, 24 delegates from the state
affiliates deliberated on the discussion paper. Various relevant and
contemporary issues came up in the discussions - the pro-people and
pro-employee polices of the LDF government in Kerala, need to strengthen
the fight for social justice, prevailing cases of gender discrimination,
dowry, child marriage, alcohol abuse, witch hunting, khap pannchayats,
female foeticides and domestic violence inspite of change and lifestyle,
formal education and use of modern gadgets, the importance of
strengthening the movement of the unorganised workers, commendable role of
AISGEF in bringing women activists into trade union leadership, state
level various organisational agitations and increasing participation of
women employees in those, lacunae in the Sexual harassment Bill,
lackadaisical attitude of administration and authorities on complains made
by the harassed women, withdrawal of New Pension Scheme and importance of
trade union education. The delegates were unanimous that united struggle
of men and women was essential to tide over the social ills.
R Muthusundaram, General Secretary, AISGEF, in his address explained the
purpose of holding the women's convention. To attain equality women have
to be organised and made conscious about the prevailing socio-economic and
political scenario so that they can launch relentless and aggressive
struggles to achieve equality and against all forms of oppressions of
working people. He appealed to increase the subscribership of Employees'
Forum, the monthly organ of AISGEF to be more informed about the issues
facing the employees. He also called for making the women sub-committees
more active and also form district and block level women subcommittees. He
said that organizing women employees should be one of the primary tasks of
trade unions.
The discussion of the' delegates was summed up by Sukomal Sen, Senior
Vice-Chairman, AISGEF. He spoke about the participation of large number of
women in the recent struggle against dictatorship in Egypt. He also
referred to the inspiring participation of women in French Revolution,
Algerian independence struggle and Indian freedom movement. Emancipation
from all forms of oppression should be the goal of women's movement. Men
also should realize the importance of participation of women in the
struggles. Social Issues regarding fundamental social change should be
discussed in the women sub-committee meetings at various levels.
Folk and mass songs were rendered by the Central Cultural team of the
State Co-ordination Committee, West Bengal and by the attending delegates
from various states. Ananta Bandopadhyay, General Secretary, State
Coordination Committee, also addressed the convention on behalf of the
Reception Committee. Sikha Mukherjee, Secretary, Reception Committee gave
the thanks giving speech. Asha Kalra delivered the vote of thanks on
behalf of the chair. The convention concluded with the singing of the
International Song.
An open session of the Convention was held at Ramlila Maidan, Moulali,
Kolkata, attended by the delegates of the convention and a sizable number
of state employees.
SPLENDID OBSERVANCE OF
GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION & HOLDING OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AISGEF AT
VIJAYAWADA ON 5-7 OCTOBER 2010
The Golden Jubilee
celebration of All India State Government Employees’ Federation and the
extended National Council Meeting of the Federation held at the historic
city of Vijayawada on 5-7 October, 2010, reaffirmed the half-century old
commitment of the Federation towards the working class of the country as a
whole. About 1200 delegates & observers from 23 State units attended the
mega event held at Andhra Layola College Auditorium; Vijayawada. The
glorious past of the largest Federation of the country, its magnitude and
its relentless & exemplary struggle for the causes of the toiling mass of
the country had been honoured and recognized by one and all including the
dignitaries and fraternal delegates of the country and abroad. The
celebration called for building even greater unity of the working class of
India to fight capitalist exploitation which was in the rise following the
recent global economic crisis.
The three-day National Council meeting was jointly hosted by the three
AISGEF affiliates of Andhra namely AP Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association,
Telengana Non-Gazetted Officers’ Central Union & AP Public Sector
Employees’ Federation and reached the peak of success thanks to the
tireless effort of the hundreds of leaders and workers of these three
organisations. The beautiful city of Vijayawada at the bank of river
Krishna was named after the legendary leader & first General Secretary of
the AISGEF Amanaganti Sri Ramulu while the magnificent dias was dedicated
to its first Chairman and another pioneer of state government employees’
movement, Arobinda Ghosh.
The historic National Council Meeting commenced at the fore-noon of 5th
October after the Chairman RG Karnik hoisted the red flag of AISGEF amidst
a huge gathering of spirited contingent of delegates. Immediately after
hoisting the flag, floral wreath were laid on the Martyr’s column by all
leaders of the Federation and the invited dignitaries.
The Hon’ble Andhra Chief Minister K Rosaih inaugurated the Golden Jubilee
Celebration. He praised the role of the Federation in the interest of the
government employees across the country and promised to give a ‘favourable
look’ to the resolutions adopted in the meeting. He felicitated the past
leaders of the Federation. Sukomal Sen, the Editor of Employees’ Forum,
handed over the Special Golden Jubilee Celebration issue to the Hon’ble CM
for official inauguration. S V Anjaneyulu, founder Head Qr. Secretary of
the Federation also walked down his memory lane before the house.
A contingent of fraternal delegates addressed the inaugural session
including K Rajendran, General Secretary, School Teachers’ Federation of
India, K K N Kutty, General Secretary, Confederation of Central Government
Employees, H Mahadevan, Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation
of Trade Unions, K Venugopal, General Secretary, All India Insurance
Employees’ Federation and Pradip Biswas, General Secretary, Bank
Employees’ Federation of India. Without a single exception, all the
frontrunners of the respective organisations described the AISGEF as their
inspiration during last 50 years.
Fraternal delegates from Sri Lanka and Nepal attended the meeting. Leaders
of all the foreign TUs spoke about the commendable role of the AISGEF for
building the working class movement in the sub-continent.
R Muthusundaram placed the General Secretary’s Report before the General
Council meeting which began at the post-lunch session on the inaugural
day. The well-drafted report gave a brief account of the existing
situation with special reference to the world economic crisis,
pro-imperialist policies of the UPA-II government and its consequences
upon the Indian working class. He called for chalking out the programme
for offensive struggle against all the exploitations and invited the
delegates to critically enrich the report thus placed.
On day-2 as many as 40 delegates from the affiliate organisations
deliberated on the report placed by the General Secretary. Very
interestingly among the 40 speakers discussed on the report, as many as 18
were women. On this score the achievement and understanding of the AISGEF
is indeed commendable.
24 draft resolutions were placed and adopted in the meeting including on
Striking Bihar Government employees, On Striking Tamilnadu Noon Meals
Employees, on Punjab Ministerial Employees’ Strike, on price rise, on
Policy and Programme and against Maoist and other Secessionist Violence.
Summing up the day long discussions on the General Secretary’s Report, R
Muthusundaram addressed all the issues raised by the delegates. He added
that problems of a capitalistic society cannot be solved within the
capitalist framework itself. Exploitation can be eliminated in an
alternative social order called socialism. He invited the august house to
march forward for achieving the goal bravely. The report along with the
summing up of the General Secretary was put to vote and the same was
accepted unanimously.
Concluding the historic extended council meeting Sukomal Sen gave a brief
deliberation explaining again and again the need of building greater unity
of state government employees cutting across the country. He expressed his
firm belief that based on its half-century old legacy, the AISGEF would
hold high the flag of the state government employees in particular and
that of the Indian working class in general.
R G Karnik, the Chairman delivered the vote of thanks. On behalf of the
Reception Committee Gopal Reddy, President of AP NGO Association offered
vote of thanks to the chair of the inaugural session and Iqbal, President
of Vijayawada District Committee of AP NGO offered the vote of thanks at
the National Council.
Vijayawada witnessed a huge rally organized as a part of the Golden
Jubilee celebration of the AISGEF after completion of the meeting. The
rally commenced from the Indira Ghandhi Municipal Stadium and passed
through the main thoroughfares of the city to reach Andhra Layola College
campus. Hundreds of local employees besides the delegates and observers
participated at the rally amidst tremendous enthusiasm and zeal holding
high colourful banners and posters with local folk dancers at the front.
Hundreds of local TU workers greeted the rally with red salute to the
delegates.
Rich cultural programme organized by different leading Kuchipudi artistes
and cultural groups of AP added a new dimension to the celebration.
Colourful dances, cherishing mass songs and an excellent drama on the
great Telengana peasant uprising simply made the delegates spellbound.
AISGEF has extended revolutionary greetings to the Reception Committee for
its unforgettable role to make the Golden Jubilee Celebration a landmark
success.
SPLENDID OBSERVANCE OF
COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 7 SEPTEMBER 2010 BY 65 LAKH STATE EMPLOYEES
& TEACHERS AT THE CALL OF ALL INDIA STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION
At the call of All India
State Government Employees’ Federation and Central Trade Unions like INTUC,
CITU, AITUC, HMS, UTUC, UTUC (Lenin Sarani), TUCC, AICCTU and other Trade
Unions in sectors like telecom, railways, defence, banks, insurance and
various public sector units, State Govt employees and teachers
participated in the General Strike of 7 September 2010 with a challenging
success. About 65 lakh employees and teachers all over the country joined
the strike. Overall, more than ten crore (one billion) workers and
employees participated in the united countrywide strike action.
September 7 general strike is the culmination of these series of
collective and demonstrative programmes by the trade unions irrespective
of political affiliations to carry forward the countrywide united struggle
against the anti-people economic policies. The success of the strike is
yet another manifestation of the increasing resentment amongst the toiling
people against price rise, unemployment, retrenchment, repression on
labour rights let loose by the pro-corporate, pro-rich policies of the
government. There was not a single state where there was no strike. The
spontaneous and unprecedented response to the strike was yet another
warning to the Governments to desist from their feverish pursuit of
anti-worker policies.
Impact of general strike was felt in many of the major airports of the
country. Numerous flights had to be cancelled or rescheduled. Train and
road services were also affected across the country. In the central
government sector, around two million employees covering around 80 per
cent of the workforce joined the strike. Overwhelming section of employees
in the telecom, postal departments, AG office, income tax and audit
offices joined the strike in a big way throughout the country braving
threats and prohibition. More than eighty per cent of the defence sector
employees working in 41 ordinance factories and depots under army, navy
and airforce, the MES offices and 50 DRDO laboratories all over the
country have joined the strike action. In Bharat Electronics Ltd under
defence ministry, strike was total in three units while in other units it
was partial. Participation of unorganised sector workers including
construction and beedi workers was also noticeable. Banks and the
insurance sectors witnessed almost total strike throughout the country
involving around 20 lakh workers and employees. 80% of the six lakh coal
mining workers also joined the strike. Impact of the strike was also felt
in the ports, petroleum sector, industrial areas and special economic
zones. A considerable section of the medical representatives were on
strike. Around fifteen lakh anganwadi workers and also ASHA workers also
participated in the strike. Massive rallies were organised in several
cities were eminent trade union leaders addressed. Thousands of picketers
were arrested across the country and in several places police resorted to
lathi charge on the strike day.
In UP, Haryana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tripura, Jharkhand, Assam, West
Bengal, Kerala, Manipur and Tamilnadu it was a complete success. In Andhra
Pradesh State about 80% of PSU workers joined the strike. In other state
government offices in the state, the strike was a considerable success. In
Orissa and Punjab it was partial. In Rajasthan and M.P. demonstrative
programmes were held all over the State.
In Jammu and Kashmir a large procession of striking employees and workers
from the industrial sectors, banks, insurance, government employees and
other establishments started from Press Club at Jammu to converge at a
mass rally at Indra Chowk. In Assam Bank, LIC, BSNL, postal, defence,
motor transport and state and central government employees participated in
the strike. In Bihar state and central government employees, Bank, LIC,
joined the strike en masse. In Haryana, complete strike was observed in
Haryana Road Transport Corporation and almost total strike in Electricity
Board. 90 per cent municipal workers throughout the state were on strike.
In some industrial units of Gurgaon and Dharuhera, many of which do not
have even trade unions, witnessed spontaneous and total strike by the
workers. In Maharashtra, about about 2.76 lakh Zilla Parishad employees
and teachers participated in the strike along with other sections of
working fraternity including state government employees. In Karnataka,
State and central government employees massively participated in the
strike. A rally was also organised at Bengaluru. In Punjab strike was 80
per cent in road transport corporations and also in Punjab State
Electricity Board. In Rajasthan, response of strike was almost total in
road transport workers paralysing traffic throughout the state. In Uttar
Pradesh State government employees took part in the strike in a big way.
In Chattisgarh, the privatised BALCO witnessed almost complete strike both
by regular workers and contract workers.
In Manipur, the government offices, post offices, BSNL and AG offices wore
a deserted look owing to strike by the concerned employees.
While greeting the workers and employees warmly for the united action, the
central trade unions called upon them to prepare for a massive march to
parliament in the month of February, 2011 if the issues raised by the
trade unions are not sorted out. AISGEF also warmly congratulated the
employees for their heroic performance.
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DEMANDS of the 7 September 2010 General Strike: |
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1. |
Price rise of essential commodities to be contained through
appropriate corrective and distributive measures like universal PDS
and containing
speculation in commodity market. |
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2. |
Concrete proactive measures to be taken for linkage of employment
protection in the recession stricken sectors as a condition for the
stimulus
package being offered to the concerned entrepreneurs and for
concrete steps against retrenchment, lay-off, contractorisation and
outsourcing. |
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3. |
Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or
exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour
laws. |
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4. |
Steps to be taken for removal of all
restrictive provisions based on poverty line In respect of eligibility
of coverage of the schemes under the
Unorganised Workers Social
Security Act 2008 and creation of National Fund for the Unorganised
Sector to provide for a National Floor Level
Social Security to all unorganised workers including the contract/casual workers in line with
the recommendation of National Commission
on Enterprises in Unorganised Sector and Parliamentary Standing Committee on labour. |
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5. |
Disinvestment of shares of Central
Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) is not resorted to for meeting
budgetary deficit and instead their growing
reserve and surplus is
used for expansion and modernization purpose and also for revival of
sick Public Sector Undertakings. |
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Additional Demands by AISGEF & Central Govt Employees’
Confederation |
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6. |
To fill up the huge number of vacancies
in government Departments through Regular appointments. |
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7. |
To abolish contractorisation,
privatisation and outsourcing in government functions/services and
bring all the contract/part-time / daily waged
employees under regular
establishment by regularizing their services. |
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8. |
To withdraw PFRDA Bill, and to desist
all attempts to do away with Social Security Schemes including the
existing Defined Benefit Pension
Scheme and bring all those who are
under the New Pension Scheme into the erstwhile defined benefit
pension scheme. |
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9. |
To guarantee the Right to Strike as a
Fundamental Right of the employees. |
30 OCTOBER 2007
NATIONWIDE STRIKE
The Central, State
Government, State PSUs employees and teachers all over the country have
decided to go on a nationwide strike on 30 October 2007 in support of a
12-Point Charter of Demands including immediate withdrawal of New
Contributory Pension Scheme as the focal point, halting downsizing
operations and other anti-employee and anti-people moves of the UPA
Government. The decision was endorsed by a National Convention held at the
MPCU Shah Auditorium, New Delhi on 13 August 2007. Over 800 delegates
including a number of women cutting across the States and various unions
joined the mighty Convention. From AISGEF a total of 622 out of allotted
quota of 625 delegates attended the Convention from all State affiliates.
The Central Govt employees, the State Government employees teachers and
the workers in the Central and State Public Sector Undertakings
particularly, and the working class in general, had been the victims of
severe economic offensive of the successive Governments that came into
existence in the country ever since the new economic policies were ushered
in 1991. While the Government of India had been modulating these policies
on the advice and direction of the triumvirate viz. IMF, World Bank and
WTO, the State Governments had been curtly directed to adhere to these
policies. Some of the State Governments followed it willingly; whereas
others under various pressures exerted on them. At this moment the most
dangerous issue that is confronting the employees in the government sector
is the conspiracy to foist the IMF-World Bank dictated New Pension Scheme
on them and denial of Interim Relief to the central government employees
pending final recommendation of the 6th Central Pay Commission as had been
the practice on all earlier occasions.
All India State Government Employees Federation and most of the
Federations of the Government employees, teachers and PSU workers are
spearheading the resistance against these ill-advised economic policies
and had been the participants in all the Strike actions organized against
these economic offensives.
This National Convention urged upon all organizations of the Central and
State Government employees and the teachers to unite and mobilize the
employees for a sustained struggle and organize a countrywide national
strike on 30 October 2007 in order to realize the demands.
On to the historic Strike on 30 October 2007.
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Charter of demands: |
|
1. |
Scrap the PFRDA Bill and Cancel appointment of the Pension Fund
Managers;Introduce statutory pension scheme for the new recruits; |
|
2. |
Grant full Trade Union rights including the right to strike to all
Government employees through appropriate legislation; |
|
3. |
(a) Stop downsizing the Government departments, privatisation and
contractorisation/ casualisation of Governmental and teaching
functions.
Stop contractual appointments of teachers and workers,
regularize all daily rated, casual and contingent employees;
(b) Lift the Ban on recruitment and fill up the existing vacancies of
all Government departments, educational institutions and State
undertakings;
Provide job to jobless. |
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4. |
Grant Interim relief of minimum of
Rs.1000/- to all Central Government employees. Implement the 6th CPC
recommendation with effect
from 1.1.2006. |
|
5. |
Bring down the abnormally rising prices
of essential commodities and strengthen subsidized public distribution
system. |
|
6. |
Merge of 50% DA with basic pay with all
consequential benefits and release of all DA instatements to the State
Govt employees. |
|
7. |
Withdraw the 5% cap and other
restrictions on compassionate appointment. Restore the compassionate
appointment scheme wherever it stands abolished. |
|
8. |
Stop the proposal to replace the CGHS by
Medicare insurance scheme. |
|
9. |
Implement all pending awards of the
Board of Arbitration. |
|
10. |
Remove the quantum ceiling on Bonus and
grant bonus to all. |
|
11. |
Set up a Judicial Committee for wage
revision of Grameen Dak Sewaks in replacement of Nataraja Murthy
Committee. |
|
12. |
Increase GPF& Small Savings' interest
rates and restore to its early level. |
MAGNIFICENT GENERAL
STRIKE ON 14 DECEMBER 2006
MANIFESTATION OF DEEP ANGER AGAINST IMPERIALIST GLOBALISATION
14 December 2006
nationwide General Strike, called by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade
Unions, was truly unparalleled. More than 10 million State Govt.
employees, teachers, employees of State public sector, Board and
Corporation and teaching institutions have massively participated in the
countrywide general strike of 14 December 2006. Employees of bank and
insurance sectors also took part in the strike in large numbers.
All the 16-point charter of demands of the strike are important. AISGEF
focused mainly on five issues which are veritably affecting the state
employees and teachers and the allied employees. These are, scrapping of
New Pension Scheme, official recognition of Right to Strike, filling up of
vacancies with the jobless youths, stopping downsizing and privatization,
and end of contract system of recruitment and to start of regular
appointments.
According to reports received till now, full strike has taken place in
Kashmir, Haryana, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, UP, MP, Kerala,
Tripura, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam,
Chattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and fairly good strike in Punjab,
Rajasthan and Orissa.
The employees participated in the strike with full enthusiasm and
determination to halt the neo-liberal offensives of imperialist
globalization being pursued by the Central Govt.
and most of the State Govts.
The employees are extremely sore over the New Pension Scheme, the Bill for
which is pending in the Parliament. The employees have shown their firm
determination to stall the conspiracy of the Govt.
to end the age-old pension system available to the employees since the
British regime.
All India State Government Employees Federation hopes that the Govt.
will take appropriate lesson from the unparalleled success of the strike
by all sectors of workers and abandon its anti-people neo-liberal economic
and labour policies, as dictated by the World Bank-IMF. Otherwise the Govt.
will have to face grave consequences. Todays loud and angry manifestation
of the deep discontent of the working people revealed through this
splendidly successful strike is a clear indication.
29 SEPTEMBER 2005
NATIONWIDE GENERAL STRIKE
A High Point of Indian Working Class Resistance Against Economic
Liberalization
Millions of
employees, teachers and workers across the country joined the strike on 29
September 2005 to express strong disapproval of the UPA Governments
anti-people economic policies 4 and proposed anti-worker labour reforms.
The strike was jointly called by the AISGEF, Confederation of Central
Government Employees and Workers, teachers organizations, several
national federations of bank, insurance and other sectors and several
central trade unions. This is the biggest protest action, the country has
ever seen, since the ushering in of the policies of capitalist
globalization, braving threats from authorities and arrests. The strike
was successful in almost all the ports of the country. The strike totally
affected insurance and banking sectors, oil and telecommunication sectors
across the country. 70% of the six lakh coal mining workers struck from
work. Production in defence industries was almost paralyzed. All domestic
airlines were forced to cancel or curtail services on major routes as
20,000 airport workers under Airport Authority of India struck work to
protest the privatization of Delhi and Mumbai airports.
Central trade unions have termed the response to the strike as
unprecedented with about 6 crore workers from both organized and
unorganized sectors joining the strike. AISGEF along with other national
federations and central trade unions have said that this historic strike
is a stern warning to the Government against its anti-people policies
otherwise the working class would be compelled to launch much bigger
struggles. Students, youth, farmers, women and other fraternal
organizations also supported the strike call. The strike was near total in
the financial sector with more than 95 per cent of the 1.3 million bank
and insurance employees participating in the strike.
XII National Conference Pledges to Intensify Struggles Against Imperialist
Globalisation
XII National Conference
of AISGEF was held in M R Appan Nagar, Kolkata from 29 December05 to 1
January 2006 with full success.
About 3000 delegates belonging to all the affiliates of 22 States of India
participated. The Conference was attended by 18 fraternal foreign
delegates from South Africa, Vietnam, Srilanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The Conference was preceded by a historic rally of the West Bengal
Government employees on 28 December05 held at Brigade Parade Ground,
Kolkata which was attended by about 2 lakhs employees from all parts of
the State including retired government employees.
XII Conference of
AISGEF
Lulamile Sotaka (from
South Africa), President of TUI of Public & Allied Employees inaugurated
the Conference. He specially referred to worldwide struggle against
imperialism and globalization.
Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Chief Minister of West Bengal addressed the
Conference as the Guest-in-Chief. He was critical of globalization and
observed that the government employees are like family members. Thereafter
several other invited trade union leaders and guests addressed the
Conference. H Mahadevan, Secretary, WFTU, in-charge of Asia Pacific
office, Delhi read out the greetings from George Marvikos, General
Secretary, WFTU and also spoke on his own behalf. MK Pandhe, President,
CITU also addressed the Conference.
In the delegate session General Secretary, AISGEF presented his Report. He
explained the salient points of the Report .
A total of 56 delegates representing various state organizations spoke on
General Secretarys Report. Thereafter General Secretary summed up the
discussion and stressed on the organizational issues. He appreciated
discussion of the most of the delegates which indicated their deep concern
for the working class struggle and AISGEFs organizational unity. He urged
that the coming years the AISGEF should intensify its struggle for Right
to Strike and stopping Privatization of Pension.
The Report was unanimously adopted. Constitutional amendments and a total
of 27 resolutions were unanimously adopted including the policy and
programme resolution, on restoration of democracy in Nepal and against
Neo-Liberal Globalization.
The office bearers were also elected unanimously. These included Chairman
-RG Karnik, Hony President - Ajoy Mukhopadhyay, General Secretary -
Sukomal Sen and Assistant General Secretaries - Smarajit Roy Chowdhury and
R Muthusundaram.
Special Session of Womens Problems was held on 31.12.2005. where a total
20 women comrades took part in the discussion.
The AISGEF
conducts struggles for protecting the trade union and democratic rights of the government
employees and teachers and to promote their economic and social well being. The last major
programme implemented by AISGEF was the All India General Strike on 11
December 98 unitedly with 56 national level mass organisations and trade unions of
the country against the onslaught of globalisation and neo-liberal economy and for
defending secularism and democracy from the offensive of communal and religious
fundamentalist forces and all conspiracies of imperialism to weaken national unity and
integrity. More than five million state employees participated in the strike. Incidentally
AISGEF firmly believe in united movement of the working class and it is
an active component of National Platform of Mass organisations consisting of 56 trade
unions & mass organisations.
Besides strikes and other actions, AISGEF also regularly conducts Seminars and Symposium to educate and enlighten
the employees of different national and international issues. The AISGEF
successfully observed All India Protest day on 23 March, 1999 by holding rallies and
demonstrations at all levels of the country against the World Bank-IMF-WTO dictated
disastrous economic policies of the Government and the depredation of the communal and
religious fundamentalist forces.
Tenth
National Conference Calls for United Struggle Against Neo-liberal Globalisation
The tenth National Conference of All
India State Government Employees’ Federation was successfully held at Mumbai
from 27 - 30 December 1999 through enthusiastic attendance of 2500 delegates and observers
representing 80,00,000 state government employees and teachers all over the country.
Foreign fraternal delegates from South Africa, Vietnam,Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh
also attended. Representatives from fraternal organisations and central trade unions also
attended the Conference. The Conference gave a call for united struggle against
neo-liberal globalisation which is playing havoc with the lives of workers. Increasing
unemployment, retrenchment, downsizing, privatisation, abolishing of vacant posts and of
denial of due financial and promotional benefits to employees were severely criticised in
the Conference. R.G.Karnik and Sukomal Sen were unanimously re-elected Chairman and
General Secretary respectively for another term. The Conference stressed the need of
raising the level of consciousness of the employees and workers at the grass-root level
towards an all encompassing onslaught to protect the rights of the working class.
March to Parliament on 9 March
On 9 March 2000, New Delhi witnessed a
massive protest march of a million people from all over the country against the
anti-people economic, social and political policies of the Central Government at the
behest of World Bank-IMF -W.T.O. Marchers included industrial workers, labours from
unorganised sectors, employees from central and state governments, teachers, local bodies,
boards, corporations, banks, insurance, agricultural labours, students, youths and women
representating a wide cross section of the society. The March was formally called by the
National Platform of Mass Organisations an umbrella organisation comprising of 56 mass and
trade union organisations of which All India state Government Employees’
Organisation is a prime constituent. The rally resolved to observe countrywide general
strike on 11 May 2000 against the anti-national policies of the Government and appealed to
all to make it a grand success.
Historic countrywide strike of 11
May
Almost the whole of India virtually came
to a standstill on 11 May 2000 in spontaneous observance of the nationwide strike call
given by the National Platform of Mass Organisations (NPMO) representing 56 mass
organisations, of which All India State Government Employees' Federation is an important
constituent. Cutting across the artificial barriers of class, creed and religion, people
from all walks of life joined the countrywide strike against the disastrous anti-people
policies of the Central Government thereby creating a record of sorts in terms of mass
participation. This should be seen as a manifestation of the peoples' protest against the
sell out the country to multinational corporations at the dictates of World Bank,
International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation. Several million of employees and
teachers belonging to state governments and local bodies joined the strike call given by
the All India State Government Employees' Federation.
AISGEF Programme
Countrywide Strike of 16th April, 2002
The 16th April 2002 strike called
by the Central and State Public Sector Undertakings, Banks, Insurance, Coal, Port and
State Government employees brought the nation to a standstill. The response to this
nationwide strike has been spontaneous and substantial. Almost all major central trade
unions along with All India State Government Employees Federation joined the
successful strike, making it one of the biggest protest actions against the Central and
some State Governments policies of privatisation, downsizing, retrenchment,
anti-worker amendments in labour laws and closure of public sector industrial units.
Nearly 10 million public sector employees
struck work. About 5 million State employees participated in the nationwide strike and day
long mass squatting. Strike was complete in West Bengal, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and in Andhra Pradesh where the entire state public sector
employees have joined the strike. In Haryana, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh state employees took part in day long mass saquattintg. In some
States private sector industrial unions also joined the strike. The strike also had its
impact in Manipur. In Punjab and Haryana, the banks and insurance sector employees
participated in the strike. In Chandigarh, employees of Electricity Departrment also
joined in strike.
21 May
2003 biggest nationwide strike witnessed since independence
India witnessed its
biggest strike action since independence as millions of workers and
employees across the country took part in the strike on 21 May 2003.
Almost all the central trade unions and federations including the AISGEF
had jointly called the strike. The eight point demands included a halt of
privatization and downsizing of government departments, restoration of
economic benefits to employees and workers, filing up of vacant posts,
halting anti-employee changes in labour laws etc. This is the eight
general strike by the working class of India against the imperialist
globalization since 1991.
More than eighty million
workers and employees consciously took part in the strike to register
their protest against the anti-people policies being pursued by the
Central and several State governments at the dictates of the World Bank-IMF-WTO.
Employees and workers from various sectors including financial
institutions, ports, mines, electricity coal, oil, power, bank, insurance,
telecom, fertilizer, iron and steel, public sector units, transport
(including rail and road) along with State and Central government
establishments contributed to the success of the strike. Millions of
workers belonging to unorganized sectors also joined the strike. Farmers,
students, youth and women organizations expressed solidarity through
various support programmes on that day. In many states the protest took
the shape of a general strike through spontaneous participation of the
masses. The success of the strike reflected firm rejection of the inhuman
exploitations let lose on the people in the name of globalization by the
imperialist forces. In the State sector, more than five million employees
of State government, State public undertakings, and local bodies actively
participated in the strike.
The strike receive
international solidarity and support from the following organizations:-
1. World Federation
of Trade Unions
2. Japan Federation of Public Service Employees Union (Kokko-Roren)
3. CIG-Confederacion Intersindical Galega Spain
4. All Pakistan Trade Union Federation
5. PancyprianTrade Union of Government/Military and Social Institutes
servants PA.SY.E.K.P.E.O.
AISGEF and the convening trade unions warmly congratulated the working
class and the general public of the country for making the strike a grand
success. The trade unions urged the government and the corporate sector to
take lesson from the challenging success of the strike and change these
anti-worker policies. The working fraternity of the nation was also called
upon to brace themselves for more intense and sustained struggles in the
coming days if such changes do not come through.
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