WOMEN'S WORKSHOP CONFEDERATION
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
REPORT ON THE TWO-DAY
ALL INDIA WOMEN’S WORKSHOP HELD AT HYDERABAD ON 9-10 OF OCTOBER 2015
Mehadi
Manzil, Income Tax employees Quarters located at Hyderabad has been the buzz of
activity with reverberating assertive voice of the women employees of the
various Departments of the Central Government, who congregated from all over
the country for a two-day workshop. This workshop is organized under the aegis
of Confederation of Central Government employees and workers.
The
programme commenced with the hoisting of Confederation Flag by Com. Usha
Bonepalli, Chair Person, Women’s Sub-Committee accompanied by com. R.
Seethalakshmi, Convenor, Women’s Sub-Committee. Led by Com. M. Krishnan,
Secretary General, Confederation all the Secretariat members and women
delegates paid floral tributes to Com. S. K. Vyasji and other martyrs.
Inaugural
Session on 09-10-2015 commenced with the warm welcome address by Com. V.
Nageswara Rao, General Secretary, Confederation of AP and Telangana State. Com.
Usha Bonepalli with her thought provoking Presidential address set the tone of
the Workshop.
Com.
Hemalatha, Convenor, All India Working Women’s Coordination & National
Secretary, CITU inaugurated the Workshop with her insightful address on the
topic “ Indian Working Class – Challenges and Our Task”. Com. Hemalatha,
recapitulating the tremendous success of the nationwide Strike on 2nd
September 2015, probed the reasons for relating the demands of the strike by
different sections of the society and the working class. The strike call was
given by 11 Central Trade Unions, independent Federations and Associations.
The
last minute of withdrawal by BMS saying that they are satisfied with the
positive response of the Government is most unfortunate. The ground reality on
the price rise, the minimum wages, bonus, FDI, contract workers, casual workers
is entirely different and there is no positive response from the government.
Government is openly and brazenly going ahead with the anti worker policies
with increased pace.
The
participation of the large sections of the people and workers in the strike
gauges the resentment of the people at large and workers and employees in
particular. The price rise posed a big threat to the women and common worker. The
issue of minimum wage is very important issue for the lakhs of Asha workers
numbering one crore are not paid any wage by the Government. They are paid only
incentive ranging from Rupees 2000 to 3000. The other demands like Casualization,
Contract and Out sourcing, Amendment to Labour Laws, FDI in Railways &
Defence etc are the issues which are affecting the employees and common people alike.
Com. Hemalatha identifying the connecting factor of all these ills, exhorted
the employees to fight against that root cause. The germination of all these
demands of the workers is the “policy of the successive governments”. The
content of the policy has to be understood and attacked. The names coined to
dress these policies are very attractive. The phrases like Structural changes,
De-regulation, Empowering, Reform etc are deceptive. These policies originated
from the philosophy of neo-liberal economics were implemented by the previous
governments and being implemented by the Government of the present day more
vigorously are the root cause of the misery of the common people and workers.
The Trade unions, which are opposing these policies, are branded as
anti-development. The result of implementation of these policies is
maximization of profit to the national and multinational corporates and
reduction of share of wages, joblessness, casualization and controctorisation
of permanent employment pushing the large sections of the society to poverty
and insecurity.
The
biggest challenge to the working class now is to establish the credentials that
it is not anti-development. The
perception and vision of the development of the rulers is not in the interest
of the majority of the population of this country. The Trade Unions are
questioning this lopsided development.
The
present day labour laws are not applicable to the 94% of the workforce of this
country. Now the present Government wants to even deprive the 6% of the
workforce the protection of the labour laws. To tilt the balance in favour of
the few industrialists and give them the unchecked power to hire and fire the
amendments to the existing labour laws are proposed. The untiring effort of the
government to amend the Land Acquisition Act is only to favour the corporates.
The proposed amendment of labour laws is intended to ban the strikes with the
threat to impose a fine of Rs.25000 to 50000 and jail term for going on strike
and for encouraging the strike.
Com.
Hemalatha, in her analytical address appealed to the workers and employees to
face this challenge by safeguarding the unity in spite of the attempts to divide
the workers in the name of religion, region community, caste, gender and
language. The unity emerged at the national level, she said that, should
percolate to the grass root level. The unity should be achieved by crossing the
barriers of organized, unorganized, central, state and private employees.
Concluding her speech com. Hemalatha gave a call to the entire women employee
to play a larger role in building up such a united movement to safeguard the
interest of this country.
The
Second lecture is delivered by an eminent and well-known Social Scientist
Professor, G. Haragopal, Fellow ICSSR, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a
visiting Professor National School of Law, Bengaluru. His talk is on “Neo-liberal
economic model – Women”. In his inimitable way he explained how the assumption
of the capitalist philosophy that the human beings are driven by self-interest.
They are self centered, egoistic, autonomous is erroneous and more particularly
in the case of women. Women gives life, nurtures that life sacrificing
everything and by any stretch of imagination women can be called a human being
driven by self-interest. He explained how the capitalism rocks the women of her
essence, dignity and equality. He thoroughly exposed the hollowness of the
assumption of the capitalism that human beings are driven by self-interest etc.
In the Capitalism the labour of millions of women is going unrecognized because
of the value system. The violence against the women became structural.
Patriarchal values extended to work place and harassed and attacked the women
dignity. The neo-liberal model has gone one step ahead and defined human being
selfish and concern for others come from the weakness of the incomplete human
being. It replaced the meaningful life with comfortable life. It has
dehumanized the human being. Such philosophy is dangerous and more disasters
for women. In that frame work every relationship becomes a commodity. Prof
Haragopal very emphatically declared that the neo-liberal economic model is the
negation of the essence of human life and hence it has to be discarded. Human
beings should work for collectivism and for a better society. Women are by
nature humane. They should not only humanize the family but also should act
change agents to make the society a better place to live in.
In
the afternoon session, Ms. Shyamasundari, Advocate has taken a class on the
awareness on the women’s Law. She has explained the various legal provisions
and constitutional rights of women.
Com.
Mallu Swarajyam, the living legend of Telangana Armed Struggle addressed the
women delegates and inspired them. She narrated how the common people including
women fought the injustice and atrocities of the landlords, Zamindars and
Nizam. She described the valiant fight of the great women Ilamma to protect her
four acre land. She exhorted all women to fight the present day exploitation
with determination.
The
first day session concluded with scintillating street play “Veera Telangana –
The Peasants Armed Struggle” by Praja Natya Mandali.
The
Second day of the Workshop is presided by Com. Seethalakshimi. She has
brilliantly narrated the present day problems of the women and need for
participation of women in the union activities.
Com.
Girija, Assistant General Secretary, All India Insurance Employees Association
has taken class on the topic “Role of Women in Trade Union and Society.” She
has narrated how the working women are subjected to discrimination. She told
about the absence of Committees at many work places against the Sexual
harassment of women. She vividly explained the need for women to jointly fight
with men against the anti-employee policies. She emphasized the need for women
to take part in the union activities and responsibilities. Com. KKN, Kutty,
President addressed the delegates and briefed the latest developments. He
stressed the need for making the struggle on the demands of the central
government employees a grand success by active participation of the women
comrades. In the interactive session all the members of Secretariat of
Confederation spoke and greeted the delegates. Women delegates from various
states participated in the discussion and expressed their opinion. About 20
delegates addressed the workshop with clarity of thought, conviction and confidence.
About 200 delegates attend the workshop. The youngest delegate is 24years of
age and the oldest delegate is 59 years of age. The Workshop ended with vote of
thanks by Com. Manushi Choudary, Member of Women’s Sub-Committee, NFPE.
The
entire proceedings were conducted in a disciplined manner. The enthusiasm shown
by the women delegates, their involvement and participation proved that the
purpose of the workshop is attained. The Reception Committee made all the
arrangements for stay and to conduct the workshop in a serene and congenial
atmosphere. It is sure that the
Hyderabad Workshop shall be remembered for its rich content, hospitality and brilliant
participation for times to come.
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
