--classstrugggle-flipmag CS June-2018 MKP (1) | Page 15

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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