People's Democracy

Tapan Sen

THE heroic strike action by the Balco workers at Chhattisgarh against the BALCO sell-off has already crossed 45 days. The 6500 permanent workers along with around 3000 contract workers have been carrying on this determined struggle demanding reversal of the Balco sell-off deal. People of Korba from all walks of life, from towns and villages, men and women alike, have joined the striking workers in expressing their anger against the loot inflicted by the BJP government on the body of Chhattisgarh, on her rich natural resources, on the tribal lands, to favour a so-called NRI company with extremely dubious credentials and also to favour themselves.

The Balco workers did not receive their salary in April. The contract workers have not been getting their payment since March itself, as the strike started early morning March 3. But still the workers enmasse are determined to carry on their fight with the support of the people.

A Community kitchen has already been opened at Balco Nagar, where around 3000 workers are take food everyday. Everyday, a rally take place, being addressed by trade unions and various mass organisations leaders coming from different parts of the country, to express their support and solidarity with the heroic as well as path-breaking struggle by the Balco workers.

It is significant that all the central trade unions in the country, despite all their differences, are united on the issue of the Balco workers’ struggle. Eight central trade unions including the INTUC, have given a call to the working class of the entire country to rush financial and to the Balco workers. In addition, trade unions, mass organisations and almost all the political parties, barring those in BJP-led bandwagon of NDA, have denounced the corrupt Balco sell-off deal between the BJP and Sterlite, and declared their open support to the Balco workers’ struggle.

This fight of the Balco workers is crucial to all the anti-privatisation and anti-liberalisation struggles in the country; they are fighting the battle of those opposing privatisation, the distress sale of the country brick by brick. They are fighting the battle of each public sector worker in the country, defending all the PSUs from being handed over for a song putting their livelihood at stake, spending day and night on the Parasbhatta chawk at Balco Nagar, for away from the comforts of home. They need support and solidarity from all, and it must be active and material support to enable the Balco workers to continue their struggle to its logical conclusion.

There are many difficulties, but despite this the fight is being carried on with high determination. From various interested quarters efforts are being made to confuse the workers and weaken their spirit, but in vain.

On April 15, the Union Mines Minister, Sundar Lal Patwa, called the Balco leadership drawn from the seven trade unions for a discussion. The state industry minister of Chhattisgarh, Mahendra Karma was also present, representing the state government. The Union Mines Minister promised almost everything if they would support the sale of Balco. The trade union leadership refused and came up with three counter proposals which would ensure continuity of government control on this profit making - and give security to this sensitive public sector unit, including handing over of a 51 per cent share to the Chhattisgarh state, as offered by its Chief Minister.

The trade union leaders asked the Union Minister that if at all the central government was inclined to sell the majority stake of Balco, why do they not sell it to the state government. What is there so special about Sterlite? Not surprisingly, the Union Mines Minister could not open his mind about the special relationship of Sterlite with the BJP brigade after making the deal; but only expressed his inability to reopen the issue of the Balco sale. The Balco leaders went back with the firm resolve to continue the strike.

Various trade unions and mass organisations have already started responding to the call for support and solidarity. CITU and the associate trade unions are carrying on an extensive fund campaign for the striking Balco workers. The PSU workers from Visakhapatnam visited Korba on March 26, in a bus-load delegation to express their support and committed sending more than Rs one lakh within a fortnight Out of that already Rs 28,225 has reached Balco. The steel plant workers of Vizag have decided to raise Rs 100 per member for the Balco fund. Report received so far at CITU head quarters indicate that CEL Employees Union, Ghaziabad, has donated Rs 10,000 the Punjab unit of FMRAI Rs 3000, BEL Workers Union, Bangalore Rs 5000, Chhattisgarh unit of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Employees Union Rs 5000 MP unit of FMRAI Rs 5000, the CITU union at IISCO Rs 1500/-the CITU unions at Duragapur Steel and Alloy Steel Rs 25000, All India Reserve Bank Employees Association Rs 1,00,000.

On April 4, MK Pandhe, general secretary CITU visited Balco Nagar along with Brinda Karat, general secretary, All India Democratic Women’s Association and handed over Rs 1,0000 on behalf of the CITU Centre; on the same day Maharashtra State CITU sent Rs 10,000, the Association of SAIL Employees, Calcutta has already sent Rs 3000 and is going to send another Rs 10,000 within a few days. According to information received from the All India Insurance Employees Association and Bank Employees Federation of India, they are sending Rs one lakh each. The Madhya Pradesh Koila Shramik Sangh is also expected to send Rs 20,000 within a few days. Reports from the West Bengal state committee of CITU say that around Rs 1,00,000 is being sent to Balco Nagar shortly for the struggle fund.

The CPI(M), while extending support to the struggle of Balco workers has called for organising countrywide solidarity with the striking workers. The Chhattisgarh CPI(M) state committee took the initiative from the first day of the strike to organise funds and solidarity from all over the state. S Kumar, state Secretary has been making frequent visits to Korba. Samar Mukherjee, Vice President CITU has also visited Balco and addressed the striking workers as also CPI(M) members of Parliament, and CITU leaders, Dipankar Mukherjee and Jibon Roy.

On April 19 Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau Member of CPI(m) is visiting Balco and the state Party has arranged a big procession from Korba to Balco Nagar on this occasion. Sitaram Yechury will hand over Rs 50,000 to the striking Balco workers on behalf of the CPI(M).

The April 17, convention held at Balco Nagar which was attended and addressed by the leaders of various central trade unions. Ardhendu Dakshi, Secretary CITU addressed the convention.

The AIDWA organised a demonstration before the Office of the Disinvestment Minister at New Delhi on April 9, and on April 13, on behalf of the Committee for Solidarity with Striking Balco Workers, A Citizens’ Convention was held in Banga Bhawan Auditorium at New Delhi which has drawn huge participation of intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, and social activists. (See report on p. 5)

Thus the Balco workers struggle has been drawing support and solidarity from all over the country, with the solidarity activities goning beyond the trade union horizon to a wider spectrum in the society. In all anti-privatisation actions in the PSUs countrywide, the Balco struggle is being referred to. In all anti-liberalisation moves, Balco is being cited popularly.

But the need of the hour is much more than what it is now. The CITU has already written to all central trade unions to consider a countrywide strike in all the public sector units in support of the Balco workers, and consultation on this is going on. At the same time all the trade unions and mass organisations must exert themselves to continue to rush maximum financial support to Balco workers’ joint platform of struggle, besides organising widespread solidarity action all over the country. They are fighting a battle on behalf of all of us, to safeguard our future, and help must reach them urgently to help them sustain the struggle to reach its stated goal.