Srinagar: To mark International Labour Day amid prevailing coronovirus pandemic, workers of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) unfurled red flags atop their houses across Jammu Kashmir as a mark of respect for the workers, who have lost their life during working across the world.
In his message CITU J&K President Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami said that as COVID19 lockdown has entered its second month across the country, the condition of working class has been affected the most. In J&K daily wagers, need based, seasonal, casual Labours, ASHA’s under NHM, Anganwadi workers and helpers, Mid Day Meal workers, CPWs, MGNREGA employees, contractuals, construction workers, artisans are without wages for months and the current lockdown has worsened their financial problems further. The J&K administration must immediately release their pending wages.
He said that recently J&K administration announced to release Rs one thousand in favour of artisans, who are facing worst crisis as like other daily earners, Rs 1000 is peanuts in present inflation and the government must pay them at least Rs 7500. Similarly, street vendors, private school drivers who are without work must be paid Rs 7500 so that they can sustain their families amid this pandemic.
Paying rich tributes to Zaldagar martyrs of 1865, he said that they laid the foundation of a struggle against the exploitation and atrocities on the artisans, a prominent section of working class. He said that the Shawlbaff protest launched at Zaldagar against the ruling class has given vent to numerous movements of working class which are awaiting successful culminations. Amid the prevailing COVID19 lockdown, it is working class which has maintained the essential services – water, electricity, transport, communication, financial services, milk, groceries, vegetables, medicines, etc while braving huge personal difficulties and sufferings. The CITU expresses its heartfelt gratitude at the invaluable services being rendered by all the front line health workers, the doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, the sanitation workers and all other workers, risking their lives to safeguard the lives of others.
The CITU asserted that the only way to overcome the present crisis due to the Covid -19 pandemic as well as the already existing global economic crisis is for the workers and all sections of toiling people to unite and not to fall prey to communal and divisive policies being pursued by the ruling class.
