A Young Workers Convention was organised by the IT branch of the CPI(M) in Bangalore on March 4. The convention discussed various problems facing the young workers in India’s IT capital and raised concern over their safety and security, especially of women and those working on night shifts. Over 700 young workers from Bangalore, mainly from IT/ITES industry, attended the convention.

Prof. C P Chandrashekhar of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) addressed the gathering at Jain University Auditorium. He said the challenges facing the young workers and the country today arise out of the toxic mix of deep communalism with fascist features and deep economic crisis caused by transition to neo-liberal economic model. Chandrashekhar pooh-poohed the claims of “synchronised economic recovery” made by the IMF and the “fastest growing Indian economy’ by the NDA government. 

CPI(M) Karnataka state secretary G V Sreerama Reddy inaugurated the convention. Inadequate income, insecurity of job and lack of any rights are the challenges faced by young workers, Reddy said. He also said that the challenges stem from intensified implementation of neo-liberal economic policies by the Modi government and attack on the idea of India mounted by the RSS-BJP communal brigade.

CPI(M) leader VJK Nair and K N Umesh, and CITU leaders Meenakshi Sundaram and S Varalakshmi also spoke about the challenges facing the young workers.

The convention also honoured R Srinivas and TKS Kutty, the heroes of “BPL Struggle”, a landmark struggle of young workers in the neo-liberal era in Karnataka, who were imprisoned for more than 16 years on false murder charges. They were given a standing ovation by the gathering.

The convention passed several resolutions on the problems of young workers, and in solidarity with struggles of various sections against anti-people policies. The convention urged all the workers to uphold the unity of the working class irrespective of caste, religion, language, etc. The convention found this is essential when the ruling class and intelligentsia servile to the capital confuse the workers through the subtle ruse of identity politics.

The convention raised concern over the safety and security of young workers working in India’s IT capital, especially women and night shift workers. Owing to the ever-pervasive covetousness of the capitalist, the workers are forced to stay late night to fulfil impossible project deadlines yet their employers fail pitifully to ensure their safety. The Young Workers Convention called for enforcement of strict safety guidelines to ensure safety and security of the workers.

The convention expressed its solidarity with the ongoing farmers’ struggle in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country. It also expressed its support to the struggles of anganwadi, mid-day meal and other scheme workers.

As Karnataka is heading towards Assembly polls this year and the CPI(M) is fielding its candidates in both Assembly and Council elections, the convention urged all to come forward and work towards the victory of the party in the polls.