THE Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI) has given a call to make the November 9-11‘Delhi Chalo’ programme of central trade unions and federations a grand success and ensure maximum participation of construction workers in it.  

The CWFI all India working committee, at its 60th meeting held in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on August 29-30, also decided to take up the issues of ban on sand and black stone mining, and disbursal of construction workers’ welfare fund. The meeting was presided over by CWFI president R Singaravelu, Malathi Chittibabu and N Veeraswamy.

M A Gafoor, after inaugurating the meeting, talked about the Modi government’s neo-liberal policies and how it affected the working class. The central government has decided to abrogate the hard-earned workers’ rights by merging many labour laws into four labour codes. All the central trade unions oppose such merger of existing labour laws. He also mentioned about the Modi government’s decision to allow private investment in strategically important sectors such as defence production, railways, banking and insurance, and petroleum and gas. At the August 8 national convention of all central trade unions and federations, it has been decided to hold a three-day massive rally in New Delhi in November to protest the neo-liberal policies of the Modi government, he added.

Singaravelu in his presidential address narrated the recent political developments across the world. He also mentioned about the economic development in China. He narrated and criticised the NDA government’s anti-people, anti-workers policies.

CWFI general secretary Debanjan Chakrabarti, in his report, said that the need of the hour was to mobilise thousands of workers for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ programme. The report talked about the bad impact of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the construction industry and its workers. Cost of building materials will be higher due to GST. He said that the ban on sand and black stone mining by the Supreme Court has hampered construction work. He said that total cess accumulation in different state boards for welfare of construction workers is to the tune of Rs 32,750 crore, but only Rs 7,532 crore has been disbursed to the beneficiaries, which is not at all satisfactory.

The meeting decided to include the following members from different states in the CWFI working committee: Vanguru Ramulu, Md. Saleem and S Rammohan Rao (Telangana); R V Narasimha Rao and B Venkata Rao (Andhra Pradesh); and Shyama Prasad Roy and Kaustav Chatterjee (West Bengal).

Sixteen comrades from different states took part in the discussion and gave their valuable opinion. After discussion, the committee decided to hold district level protest dharna across the country on construction workers’ demand on September 27. Due to religious festival and other programmes, such protests would be held on a different date in seven states.

The CWFI will prepare a comprehensive memorandum on the issue of ban on sand and black stone mining, which caused stoppage of construction work, and send it to the central government for immediate intervention. On the impact of GST and demonetisation on construction industry and its workers, another memorandum will be prepared and sent to the finance minister for needful intervention.

The CWFI will also take part in the national convention of Left and democratic, class and mass organisations on September 18 in New Delhi.

The 9th all India conference of CWFI will be held in 2018 in Punjab.