CTUs Call for Protest on April 29 Denouncing Reduction in EPF Interest Rate

THE Central Trade Unions, in a statement issued on April 26, have strongly denounced the unilateral reduction in interest rate on Employees Provident Fund from 8.8 percent to 8.7 percent, ignoring the unanimous decision of the tripartite Central Board of Trustees of EPFO. On February 16, 2016, the CBT of EPFO, in its meeting chaired by union labour minister unanimously decided the interest rate on EPF at 8.8 percent as an interim measure with an indication of increasing it further in view of availability of funds generated by the EPF.

Fight Anti-Worker Measures

After widespread opposition from workers and employees and protests by all trade unions and even the NDA allies of the BJP, the finance minister was forced to withdraw the proposal even before discussions began in parliament. Following this, the government made steep cuts in interest rates on small savings schemes like the Public Provident Fund, National Savings Certificate and Post Office Savings.

TAMILNADU ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS: PWF Marches Forward Towards a Big Change

FOR the first time in Tamilnadu politics, a big experiment engineered by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is gaining momentum – that is the grand alliance of Peoples’ Welfare Front (PWF) and DMDK of opposition leader and actor Vijayakanth and former union minister GK Vasan’s Tamil Manila Congress (TMC).Executing the call of the 21st Congress of the CPI(M), the Tamilnadu state committee had decided to move towards ousting the ruling AIADMK and keeping the corrupt DMK and the Congress out as well as fighting the communal BJP and casteist PMK.This led to the successful formation of Makk

SFI Calls for Marathwada Relief Campaign

THE Marathwada region of Maharashtra is passing through a severe drought for the straight fourth year now. While drought conditions exist today in 256 districts in 10 states of the country and affects nearly 33 crore people, the conditions are most acute in Marathwada. The acute drought condition has taken the form of shortage of water, food grains and cattle feed in the entire region.Maharashtra has the dubious distinction of seeing highest number of farmer suicides in the country. In 2009, the state had seen 1,600 cases of farmer suicides which rose to 1,740 in 2010.

Brazil: Creeping Coup!

SINCE the beginning of the year, Brazil has been lurching from crisis to crisis with the elected government now under the threat of being overthrown by a cabal of right wing politicians, businessmen and judges, acting in an extra-constitutional way. The current political crisis has its roots in the economic downturn the country has been facing since the re-election of President Dilma Rousseff for a successive second five year in office. Her victory coincided with the collapse of the commodity boom.

Martyrdom Day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev Observed in Surrey, Canada

THE Indo-Canadian Workers Association of Canada held a public meeting to observe the martyrdom day of Saheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, and to mark the birth centenary of former CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet. The meeting, held in Strawberry Public Library in Surrey on March 20, was presided over by Ranjit Singh and moderated by Surinder Dhesi.

Mumbai Draft Development Plan: Authorities Surrender before Real Estate Sharks

THE abject failure of the authorities in finding a planned solution to the massive and aggravating problems of Mumbai and its citizens was highlighted in a programme to discuss the Draft Development Plan for Mumbai for 2015-2034. The programme was organised on February 7 by the School of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the University of Mumbai’s Department of Civics and Politics. The School of Social Sciences, earlier known as Indian School of Social Sciences, Mumbai, was reconstituted and registered recently.

JMS DELHI CONFERENCE: Intensify Struggles for the Rights of Working Class & Young Women

THE Janwadi Mahila Samiti, Delhi held its XII State Conference from April 15-17, 2016 in the context of growing assault on the rights of women and working classes under the current Modi government. The conference was attended by 147 women from the NCR region and held deliberations on political situation today and its implications for the social and economic rights of women.

125th Birth Anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar

DELHIDSMM Salutes the Memory of Dr BR Ambedkar THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (Delhi unit) celebrated the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar on April 14, 2016 by organising a public function at Parliament Street, New Delhi.

Fight against Rising Atrocities on Dalits, Minorities & Women

AFTER the assumption of power by the BJP alliance at the centre and Mahagathbandhan alliance comprising of JD(U), RJD, Congress in Bihar, the feudal and the rich classes feel emboldened. They have become more aggressive towards the poor people. Attacks have grown manifold against the weaker sections like dalits, mahadalits, extremely backward classes, minorities and women.On the birthday of Sahjanand Saraswati, the first president of Kisan Sabha and a legendry peasant leader, the entire Kachia village in Nawadah district inhabited by mahadalits, was set on fire.

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