Labour File:
Pathetic Conditions of Workers in India
India is supposed to be a‘ democratic’ country with a constitution that endowed people with more rights. It is also supposed the‘ independent’ judiciary renders equal justice alike. India is supposed to be under rule of democratic system run by the majority of people. But in India where workers and toiling masses who comprises the majority neither enjoy any freedom or right nor equal justice has ever been dispensed to them, nor do the wealthy classes ever treat them with human dignity but with the despicable feudal brutality. Justice and equality remain a far cry for workers which are being denied by the exploiting ruling classes.
The following incidents during last six months, in various parts of India discloses the true pathetic state of workers, either belongs to‘ organised’ sector or‘ unorganised’ sector, being treated as second rate citizens. Bullets as Bonus for Assam Tea Garden Workers
The workers of the Bogidhola tea estate in eastern Golaghat district have been agitating demanding 14 per cent of bonus, while the management was willing to pay 8.33 per cent. This bonus is related to Durga puja. The agitating workers were being supported by Krishak MuktiSangram Samiti( a farmers group). As a part of their agitation, protesting measly bonus offered by the management, the plantation workers ghraoed the owner, Sudhir Roy and his brother Sumit Roy on 13-12-2017. Instead of meeting out workers demand, the owner and his brother opened fire using the licensed gun and pistol on the workers injuring five workers. Several other workers were also injured while trying to
June- 2018 escape from firing range. The police who entered the scene have detained the owner and his brother only to rescue them from the‘ mob’( agitating workers), but they were not arrested. Such is the true nature of the law and order maintenance where the rich culprits are rescued and victims are arrested. Justice – A Mirage
The management of Pricol in Tamil Nadu had booked a false case implicating some workers in the criminal case of vandalism and violence against management officials. The Madras High Court had held that the case was fabricated and that the charge sheet in the case was flawed. It acquitted six workers and one worker was acquitted by the High Court.
But on the same day, 13 November 2017, the management of Pricol filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the acquittal. The petition was admitted by the Supreme Court and it even issued notices to the workers.
At the same time, the Supreme Court had not admitted and dismissed the Special leave petition of two workers of Pricol, Manivannan and Ramamurthy, against conviction and life sentence awarded by the lower court, not even attempting to examine the case of these workers basing on the merit of facts on the record, as appreciated by the Madras High Court.
This is how our independent and unbiased judiciary that is supposed to discharge equal justice, has in reality took up the cause of boosting the neo-liberal agenda of the monopoly capital.
Previously the very same nature of justice was dispensed to the workers of Maruti-Suzuki and Geaziano workers. Jharkhand Government Bans A Long-standing Trade Union
Mazdoor Sanghata Samiti( MSS) was a registered trade union from 1989 having around 22,000 members. From its inception in 1985 it has been engaged in organizing workers in various industries in Giridhi, Bokaro and dhanbad areas in Jharkhand. It is working among the workers of coal mines, thermal power plants, unorganized sector and agricultural labour and organizing them to realize their legitimate demands. It has also been spear-heading protests against fake encounter of an alleged naxalite by the government. The union is also organizing adivasis against“ Momentum Jharkhand” which licenses and permits industrialists to plunder and loot natural resources – the common property of the people of Jharkhand.
The activity of MSS awakening political consciousness among workers and people, particularly adivasis, opposing the anti-people policies of government was not only unpalatable but also irked the state government which invoked section- 16 of Indian criminal law amendment Act-1908 – a colonial law of British era to suppress Indians who resisted exploitation and suppression – and declared the MSS as unlawful and banned it.
That is how the‘ political freedoms’ and legitimate rights of workers to organize and protect their rights and pursue their justified aspirations are being treated by the state of the exploiting ruling classes. Workers forced to clean the shoes of HR managers
Yet an another incident of heinous punishment of feudal
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