AICCTU articulates grievances of construction workers

Special Correspondent

Silchar, Feb 12: Left organizations have been articulating the various grievances of the building and construction workers before the authorities concerned from time to time for their redressal but with no positive outcome. Quite recently, members and supporters of All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Cachar district committee, brought out a rally with banners and posters and demonstrated before the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner of Cachar, pressing for a sympathetic consideration of the various demands of the workers.

 In a memorandum addressed to the Labour Minister, Government of Assam, and submitted through the Assistant Labour Commissioner here last Wednesday, it has been pointed out with resentment that in 1996 the Government of India approved an Act in the Parliament for ensuring social security to the workers across the country. Along with that, they have also been entitled to get pension and the benefits of other welfare schemes. Sadly enough, nothing has been done by the state government in this regard.

 It is true that the state government of Assam has set up welfare fund and welfare board for the workers of unorganized sectors. In consistent with the declared schemes of the state, a large number of workers have registered their mes. But, these schemes are not being implemented with the sincerity it deserves. Rather, there is a sense of despondency. AICCTU wants to give the message that it has been a long wait for them and if measures are not taken to respond to the aspirations and expectations of the workers, it will be forced to take to agitation.

 The memorandum signed by a number of frontline leaders, Asim th, Afman Ali, Kajal Das, Md. Hussain, Gandhi Lal Kairi among others, a 9 point charter of demands has been elaborated for the information of the Labour Minister. These include immediate grant of regular pension, extension of medical facility and treatment, provision of necessary tools and equipments, grant of Rs.10,000 to every registered worker, sincere implementation of all the welfare schemes of the Board, strengthening of PDS and curbing the rising inflation, compensation to the workers, victims of accident, and sanction of Rs.2 lakh to each worker for house construction and necessary fincial help to the bachelor-workers and the unmarried daughters of workers.