People's Democracy

FROM Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, one of the main centres of public sector industries in the country, 36 trade union leaders visited the plant of the public sector Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) on March 26. These leaders belonged to the CITU (30), AFTU (3), INTUC (2) and DITU (1), and represented 8 public sector industries, namely the Visakhapatnam Steel Project, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels Ltd, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Hindustan Steel Construction Ltd, and Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

These leaders traveled by a bus from Visakhapatnam and passed through Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, before reaching the BALCO plant. In all, they traveled about 2000 km to and fro. The visit inspired and built confidence among the agitating BALCO workers and employees.

It was the biggest contingent of trade union leaders coming all the way from a far off place like Visakhapatnam.

Leaders of the unions active among the BALCO workers told the delegation that the BALCO workers will continue their struggle till the agreement reached between the private sector Sterlite and the government of India about the BALCO’s privatisation, involving the sale of the plant at throw-away prices, is scrapped. They further said workers and people from neighbouring villages and industries are visiting the BALCO plant every day and expressing their solidarity with the agitating workers.

They also appraised the delegation that the latter’s visit has definitely boosted the morale of the agitating workers. They criticised the BJP’s attitude and pointed out that two MLAs of the BJP who belong to the area have expressed their inability to support the movement because of the political line of the BJP. They expressed anguish over the fact that neither the Telugu Desam Party, which is propping up the NDA government from outside, nor the NDA partners are willing to support the BALCO workers’ agitation.

The public meeting, organised on March 26 evening, was attended by more than 5,000 workers. The meeting, all through inspiring, was addressed by 10 members of the delegation. None of the workers left the meeting till it was concluded.

The delegation donated Rs 8,000 to the agitating BALCO workers on the spot, in the public meeting itself. Of these, Rs 5,000 came from the CITU’s Visakhapatnam district committee and Rs 3,000 from the IFTU. The delegation promised to send another Rs one lakh within a fortnight.

The Visakhapatnam delegation urged the BALCO action committee leaders to make it convenient to visit Visakhapatnam. During its return journey, the delegation addressed a press meet at Raipur. As a result, the visit was given wide coverage by the press.

The delegation met the Chhattisgarh chief minister Agit Jogi on March 27 morning. The chief minister requested the delegation to extend further support to the agitating BALCO workers by ensuring that all workers of Visakhapatnam donate their one day wages for the cause.

The delegation returned to Visakhapatnam on March 28 morning. The entire delegation was quite satisfied with its BALCO visit, and felt it is their prime responsibility to support the striking BALCO workers.