Circular No.37/2020
16th June 2020
To all Units, Affiliates, Office Bearers, CC & GC Members
Dear Comrade,
Nationwide Protest on 3rd July 2020
Struggle of Non Cooperation and Defiance
The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has created a new dimension of the world order; our country is of no exception. We are concerned to note that more than 330000 people have been found to be infected with the virus and around 10000 died. As per experts, the peak is yet to be reached in our country in the backdrop of 10000 people per day found positive in last 4 consecutive days and rising. The country wide lockdown started on 25th March 2020 and first phase of unlock is continuing with some restrictions for containment areas; following initiation of unlocking the number of infected persons is on the rise.
As a result of lockdown, more than 14 crore jobs were lost during the period in organised and unorganised sectors. As per ILO, more than 40 crore people may be pushed to deep poverty. The migrant workers were put into inhuman misery with sudden declaration of lockdown; many workers died due to starvation; heat; exhaustion while traversing home on foot in absence of transport facilities.
The already fragile Indian economy, suffering from slowdown, is almost in the brink of disaster with continuous fall in GDP growth. A big section of people have lost purchasing power and need of the hour was to support them with monthly cash incentive of Rs.7500 for three months at least. It was required from the Govt. to supply sufficient food grains to all poor families for minimum six months. It is pity that the Govt. did not consider these suggestions put forward by eminent economists of the country and demanded by the trade unions. In the name of so called Rs.20 lakh crore Relief Package, the Govt. extended pittance for the distressed people of the country pushing them into bleak conditions.
The Govt. at the Centre, during the period of lockdown, is desperately pushing through its neo liberal economic agenda. The Govt. shamelessly ignored miseries of the workers who are indispensable in producing wealth of our country. Given the people badly suffering, different state governments are diluting and/or suspending labour laws for the interests of the big business houses; obviously with tacit support from the Centre. Efforts are made to increase 8 hours workday to 12 hours. Attacks have been mounted on the employees and retirees by stopping DA and DR respectively, by the Central Govt. and some of the State Govts. In the disguise of making a new self reliant India, ceremoniously named as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, wholesale privatisation of the public sector enterprises including strategic sector is contemplated. We came across media reports that privatisation of some PSBs is under consideration of the Govt.
At the call of Central Trade Unions (CTUs), nationwide protest was organised against continuous attacks on the workers and their rights in which we also joined. Given that the Govt. at the Centre is in the mood of furthering their attacks, the CTUs jointly with the Federations and Associations of various sectors have decided to observe Nationwide Protest Day on 3rd July 2020. It was further decided that countrywide united struggles of Non-cooperation and Defiance against the detrimental policies of the Govt. will be launched; concrete form of the struggle including nationwide General Strike will be finalised by the joint
platform in due course.
We call upon our Units and Affiliates to participate in the programme as decided by respective State/area committees of the Central Trade Unions and Federations/Associations of different sectors including ourselves to make the Nationwide Protest Day on 3rd July 2020 a massive success.
Joint Press Statement of the Central Trade Unions and Federations released on 05th June 2020 is appended.
With greetings,
Yours comradely,
(Debasish Basu Chaudhury)
General Secretary
Source : https://www.befi.in/
