People's Democracy

Imported Harvesting Machines

THE powerful sugar lobby of Maharashtra led by Sakhar Mahansangh, with active connivance of Vajpayee government has embarked on a plan to import German and Australian sugarcane harvesting machines worth 300 crores of rupees in order to do away with lakhs of sugarcane cutters and transportation workers employed in the industry. In fact the central government has very kindly considered the appeal of the sugar lobby to waive import duty on these machines.

The spread of this news led to growing anger among the nearly 10 lakh unorganised workers who openly talked of smashing or burning these job killer machines as each machine automatically cuts and transports nearly 400 tonnes of sugarcane daily. In this situation stepped in the CITU to channelise this anger into a sustained struggle against the sugar lobby and globalisation policies.

The Maharashtra Oostod & Wahtuk Kamgar Sanghatana (Sugarcane Cutter and Transport Workers Organisation) led by the CITU held a militant demonstration at Azad Maidan, Mumbai on May 30, 2001 demanding an immediate ban on the imported sugarcane harvesting machines. It gave a clarion call to conduct a sustained agitation to save the jobs of 10 lakh unorganised workers in the sugar industry of Maharashtra.

It was also demanded that they be provided status of sugar factory workers with all the benefits of organised workers. And till this was considered Mathadi Workers Act (Headload workers) Act should be implemented which gives rights like PF, gratuity, bonus, paid holidays, compensation for the injured and dead, insurance etc from 25 per cent levy from the sugar factories along with humane working conditions like pure drinking water, shelter, cheap grain, schools for children and creche for babies.

This mammoth meeting was addressed by veteran trade union and kisan leader P Sanzgiri, who is also the CITU state president. He extended full support and solidarity of the organised working class to the sugarcane cutters in their fight against the anti-working class policies of the government. AIKS state secretary Dr Ashok Dhawale welcomed the workers for their fight against the powerful sugar lobby and promised active co-operation between the toiling farmers and the unorganised workers. K L Bajaj state secretary of CITU, Dr Vivek Monteiro, Madan Naik, Bhavalkar, Hemkant Samant, Suman Sanzgiri, K Raghu of the CITU lashed out at the sugar syndicate for importing harvesting machines and supported the demands of the trade union rights of the sugarcane cutters and transport workers.

Kumar Shiralker, the working president of the organisation and AIAWU leader who presided over the meeting criticised the globalisation policy of the government and stressed that the fight against the harvesting machines was part of a broader struggle against the anti-people policies of the government. Other speakers spoke against the sugar lobby’s exploitation of the harvesting workers even as some sugarcane cutters and mukadams narrated about the wretched working conditions and humiliations they had to suffer.

As the time of the appointment with the labour minister passed there was a tension in the prolonged meeting when the news came that the chief minister had gone to Delhi and the labour minister avoided appointment, activists grew angry and threatened to take a march to the Mantralaya (secretariat) to press for discussion. When the angry mass surged ahead towards the Mantralaya the police realised the danger and immediately state minister for labour was ready to meet the delegation. D D L Karad, president of the organisation elaborated to the workers about the discussions and declared that the minister was ready to accept only some demands like compensation for the injured and dead workers and supply of sugar to the sugarcane cutters. On the main demand for the ban of imported harvesting machines and implementation of Mathadi Act the government was not agreeing. Hence the organisation would have to wage a relentless fight for realising these demands. It was decided that marches will be taken to the 32 tehsils of the drought areas pressing for the demands and that the continuous struggle to secure jobs and Mathadi Act will go on. If the sickles stop cutting sugarcane the sugar industry will come to a stand-still, he declared amidst thunderous applause. The workers dispersed in enthusiasm shouting ‘Ban the job-killer imported sugarcane harvesting machines’ 'Down with Sakha ‘Mahasangh’ ‘Down with the pro-rich Vajpayee and Maharashtra governments’ etc.

The demonstration was preceded by extensive preparations. With the news of the import of the harvesting machines, the AIAWU and CITU decided to register a new organisation for sugarcane cutter and transportation workers. There was a statewide campaign at 75 sugar factory sites of 16 districts to contact the widespread workers from February to April 2001. These 8 to 10 lakh workers came mostly from 25 perennially drought taluks of central Maharashtra. Thousands of leaflets were distributed. This factory site contact was the most effective method as valuable information regarding the wretched working conditions of the workers accidents, atrocities and semi-bonded nature of the work could be collected. Later all this information was processed on computer and kept ready.

It came out how even bondedness is being practiced by the sugar barons. These workers are not considered as the workers of the sugar factories. They are not covered even under the Contract Labour Act. The mukadams are provided with paltry advances from the sugar factories to arrange for cutters and transportation workers. An amount of Rs 15,000 to 35,000 for a bullock-cart owner, usually a poor farmer and Rs 500 to 2000 for a cane cutter family are given as advances at the beginning of the season. The workers are not directly paid. They are hardly aware of the wages, transportation rates, and weight of sugarcane. They live in horrible conditions without safe drinking water, lights, shelter, rationing, medical facilities even for fatal accidents. As they have to repay the money taken as advance and they completely remain at the mercy of the mukadams and dare not question regarding living conditions and wages. They live hand to mouth and usually their wages are not enough to pay back the entire advance so they have to renew their loan in the next season. Thus the bondedness continues for years.

In this situation a new CITU led organisation took roots among the most unorganised and exploited workers. Now it is leading the movement for protecting the jobs. A long, bitter struggle lies ahead.