PEOPLE around the world are up in protests, giving vent to their growing resentment. In Chile, what ignited the protests were the increase in metro fare by four cents; in Lebanon, it was the $6 monthly tax on Whatsapp calls; in Iraq, they began calling for an end to corruption, improved basic services and more jobs; in Haiti, they started against corruption, high inflation, fuel prices, and food shortages.
COMRADE Debasish Das, who worked for Peoples Democracy for long and later in Ganashakti expired on October 29, in Siliguri, West Bengal. He was 81. At the time of his death, he was in-charge of managerial work of Siliguri edition of Ganashakti. He had to oversee the affairs of Northern Bengal districts.
INDIA is facing an unprecedented slowdown of the economy with GDP growth slumping to 5 per cent in the June quarter, agriculture growing by only 2 per cent and manufacturing by a mere 0.6 per cent. Private consumption expenditure – spending by families on consumption – has slipped downwards, bank credit has decelerated, investment is dipping and sales of common commodities are declining. Such is the sweep of this slowdown that lakhs of workers have either been thrown out of jobs or laid off.
The following is the statement issued by the CITU on October 31
THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) is deeply grieved on the passing away of Comrade Gurudas Dasgupta, veteran trade union leader of the country and eminent parliamentarian for decades, this morning in Kolkata after prolonged illness. He was 84 years of age.
A NATIONAL Convention of Oil & Petroleum workers organised by the trade unions of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil India Limited (OIL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) was held in Mumbai on October 26. Around 350 union workers from these oil public sector undertakings (PSUs), from all over the country, participated in the convention and resolved to protest against the move to privatise oil PSUs in the country. They called for an all India strike on November 28.
IT has been proved by the works of many scientists that the changing dynamics of increased urbanisation has resulted in the change in energy balance, especially in the metropolitan cities like Mumbai. This has led to the creation of urban heat islands.
THE CPI(M) Delhi state committee, in a statement issued on October 30, has welcomed the announcement of the AAP government fixing monthly minimum wage of unskilled workers at Rs 14,842. It also welcomed enhancement in wages of semi-skilled and skilled workers. This is the result of prolonged struggles by the Left trade unions and workers of Delhi as well as the successful legal fight waged by them in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court. The CPI(M) heartily congratulates the workers of Delhi for this victory.
THE Minimum Support Price (MSP) of winter crops for the forthcoming Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) (2020-21) announced by the Narendra Modi led BJP government is insensitive, anti-peasant and a betrayal of its own promises. In times of an economic recession, increased costs of cultivation and falling incomes, the MSP announced is a mockery of farmers’ plight. Pliant sections of the corporate media are only adding insult to injury by terming it a festival gift to farmers.