Telangana: Fighting for Rights: The Struggle of Working Class
S Veeraiah
TELANGANA is witnessing an upsurge in the working class struggles, which have taken the form of indefinite strikes leading to even militant actions, besides demonstrations and dharnas. Their demands include minimum wages, reduced working hours, job security, affordable housing and land. These struggles are indicative of the increasing frustration among the working class with the present political systems.
In a historic move, anganwadi workers in the state of Telangana went on a three-day statewide strike. Although the strike was called by a union affiliated to the CITU, workers from all unions participated in large numbers. The strike, which took place from March 1-3, aimed to address demands such as protecting Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, recognising anganwadi workers and helpers as regular employees, implementing minimum wages, and providing gratuity as per the Supreme Court's verdict. This marks the first time a single union's strike call has been successful for three days in the state. On the first day, more than 32,000 workers participated in demonstrations, followed by a 36-hour sit-in programme (vanta-varpu) on the second day in which around 30,000 workers participated. Despite the cold and mosquitoes, 4,540 people slept under tents by the roadside. On the final day, more than 32,000 people participated in demonstrations at collector offices. Meanwhile, thousands of ASHA workers went on mass padayatras. Although officials had refused to negotiate with unions in recent years, they are now in talks with them. In addition, more than 17,000 IKP-VOAs went on strike from March 16-18 to demand job security, recognition as employees, implementation of minimum wages, and the issuance of identity cards from SERP. Online work has been suspended from March 21 to April 2, and preparations are underway to intensify the struggle.
A team of leaders from the gram panchayat workers went on a 17-day padayatra and staged a dharna in Hyderabad demanding minimum wages, job security, and other benefits. Around 6,000 people attended the protest. Under the auspices of the joint action committee, 23,000 VRAs went on an 80-day strike, demanding the implementation of pay scales and dependent employment as promised by the chief minister in the assembly. The strike was called off after the minister, KT Ramarao, gave assurances to the workers. In Singareni collieries, 10,000 contract workers went on strike for 14 days and called it off after an agreement was reached on the demands of wage, bonus increase, and implementation of skilled wages category-wise. For the first time in Telangana, a joint action committee has been formed in the power sector with 24 unions.
Over 51,000 artisans and regular employees have begun agitations and blocked the main gates of Vidyut Soudha on March 24, demanding fitment, weightage, conversion of artisans, and minimum wages for piece-rate workers. Industrial workers across the state campaigned massively for minimum wages, reduced working hours, and five-day workweeks. In January, thousands of workers participated in a 10-day jeep jatha led by leaders of the transport sector, and dharnas were held at collectorates with hundreds of workers. Pasumitras, who have been working for years, are also getting organised. Across the state, thousands of unorganised sector workers and agricultural labourers are fighting for houses and house sites by erecting huts on government lands in 50 different centres.
Telangana is witnessing a widespread working-class movement, unprecedented in its history. The central government's pro-business policies have favoured corporate giants like Adani, Ambani, and others, while simultaneously denying workers their basic rights and inflicting more hardships on the common people. Moreover, the state government's undemocratic tendencies have only added to the workers' growing frustration and anger towards it.
Both the central and state governments are responsible for the issues faced by the working class due to the implementation of neoliberal economic policies and hostility towards trade unions. However, the central government has been more detrimental to the working class with its harmful policies. For instance, it aims to provide fortified food purchased from multinational corporations, weaken the current anganwadi system, and terminate welfare schemes. The recent union budget also witnessed cuts in funds for such schemes. Additionally, the BJP government is attempting to pass the Electricity Amendment Bill, which could lead to the demise of power generation and distribution companies in the public sector, negatively impacting electricity employees and the people, including farmers who receive free electricity. While the workers were fighting for minimum wages and reduced working hours in the state, the central government repealed labour laws and replaced them with four codes, excluding crucial aspects of these Acts.
The centre is exhibiting partiality towards state governments that express dissent on it, by wielding its control over all resources. It is using the pretext of a single language, people, and election to tighten its grip, and trying to propel the country towards a single religion, party, and leader, which challenges the legitimacy of regional parties. BJP is taking advantage of the mounting dissatisfaction among workers to serve its political interests. Moreover, it is instigating hatred in the guise of religion to fragment the working class, with media, social media, festivals, and temples as its instruments. They are using religious divisions to create a vote bank, which is detrimental to social cohesion and undermines the principles of democracy.
Despite being the ones who spearheaded the movement for a separate Telangana state, the current state leadership is now undemocratically attempting to stifle the struggles of the working class. Union leaders have been unable to obtain an audience with ministers for several years, and the government has placed restrictions on protests and demonstrations. Moreover, the administration has retaliated against the workers struggles and strikes, as demonstrated by their efforts to quell the 56-day statewide RTC workers' strike in a vindictive manner. The state government's efforts to break unions representing scheme workers have involved collaborating with leaders from within its own employee base. As a consequence of this, the level of discontent among state government employees has also risen.
The state government and BRS leaders need to change their attitude towards mass movements and fight for the rights and funds for the state with the central government in the interests of the people. Additionally, besides engaging in a resolute political confrontation against the BJP and RSS, more efforts are needed to safeguard the working class and poor. The working class needs to remain united and vigilant against attempts to divide them in the name of religion and should take a leading role in ensuring that the BJP and RSS do not gain strength in the state. Red-flag politics and parties must be strengthened to ensure the elimination of exploitation of the working class.
