Tamilnadu CITU Braces For The Challenges Ahead

State Conference Calls For Broader Struggles

A K Padmanabhan

HELD in the backdrop of the Jayalalitha government’s savage attack on the basic rights of the working class, the ninth state conference of the Tamilnadu CITU resolved to undertake powerful struggles to meet the challenges ahead. It also decided to use the occasion of holding the eleventh national conference of the CITU in Chennai to spread its message to every nook and corner of the state.

A massive rally on August 10 marked the successful conclusion of the ninth state conference at Triunelveli. This historic town hosted the state conference on August 7-10.

The conference venue was named after Comrades S A Thangarajan-D Janakiraman, office bearers of the state CITU, who passed away recently. The state president J Hemachandran hoisted the red flag.

R Krishnan, former MLA and chairman of the reception committee, in his welcome address noted Tirunelveli’s historic tradition of struggle. It was in this district V O Chidambaram Pillai, the legendary leader of the early freedom movement, organised the textile workers in Coral Mills and organised a strike in 1908. Revolutionary activities had continued through out the period of freedom struggle. It was here on July 23, 1999 at the time of the Mancholai Tea estate workers struggle, 17 workers were drowned when policemen lathicharged the procession to the collectorate and the participants were chased into the river.

J Hemachandran, in his presidential address, noted the latest developments in the state including that of the state government employees struggle.

R Umanath, vice-president of the CITU, inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural address he lashed out at the policies of AIADMK government and its undemocratic and authoritarian style of functioning Referring to the struggle of the state government employees and teachers, he said that the workers and employees will not surrender their hard won rights and under no circumstance will they give away their right to strike.

The conference was attended by M K Pandhe, general secretary, W R Varadarajan, secretary, S. Veeraiah, general secretary, A P state CITU and B Prasannakumar, secretary, Karnataka state CITU.

An important aspect of the inaugural function was the honouring of 31 veteran trade union activists of the state. M K Pandhe, R Umanath and W RVaradarajan presented shawls to them. A K Padmanabhan introduced the veteran comrades to the delegates.

GEN-SEC’S REPORT

T K Rengarajan, general secretary, presenting his report explained the ill effects of the imperialist-driven liberalisation policies of the central government, which have been whole-heartedly adopted by the Jayalalitha government. He elaborated on the salient features of the report, which was circulated to all the delegates one week in advance.

Rengarajan also explained the lessons drawn from various struggles undertaken during the last 34 months. The latest experience during the May 21 general strike was analysed. He referred to the difficulty in organising united struggles in view of the fact that except for the Left, other major political parties were supporting the liberalisation drive.  It is only the Left which was prepared to take-up the fight against liberalisation. In this situation, the unity has to be built from below and the struggles have to be developed at the work spot level and then both at the state and national level, stressed Rengarajan.

The importance of organising our independent movement and also the necessity of united movements was also stressed. The necessity of strengthening ideological orientation in our work was underlined by the general secretary.

Referring to various improvements, he noted the advance in the functioning and activities of the working women’s co-ordination committee. District conventions were held in 27 districts and the state convention of this committee, held in June, was successful in all aspects.

On the organisational front, the expansion and planned growth was underscored. The year 2003 has been declared as a year of growth. Guidelines for expansion have been finalised earlier by the state committee and this has to be followed. The CITU should concentrate its work on major industries and the unorganised sector. The situation in various industries was analysed.

The functioning of the state centre, secretariat, state committee, various federations, coordination committees and that of the 34 district committees was critically reviewed.

The discussion on the general secretary’s report began after group discussions by delegates. In all, 72 delegates participated in the seven hour long discussion.

Representatives of various fraternal organisations and various employees unions greeted the conference. W R Varadarajan, secretary and leaders of AP and Karnataka CITU state committees also greeted the conference.

Summing up the discussion, T K Rengarajan clarified various issues raised by the delegates. He commended the enthusiastic response of the delegates to the need for launching broader struggles. He welcomed the suggestions given in regard to the campaigns. 

The report and the financial statements submitted by the treasurer (in charge), P M Kumar was unanimously adopted by the conference.

Among the resolutions adopted by the conference included one on the recent strike by the state government employees and teachers. This resolution condemned the state government for its authoritarian stance. A resolution opposing the Supreme Court judgement on strike was adopted in the inaugural session itself.

`A separate discussion was held on the holding of the eleventh all India conference of the CITU on December 9–13, 2003 at Chennai. A Soundararajan, assistant general secretary, explained the tasks ahead. Enthusiastically responding to the call for funds, the Coimbatore west district committee handed over Rs 1.15 lakh while the central organisation of TN Electricity Employees gave Rs 2 lakhs as the first instalment.

CONCLUDING ADDRESS

M K Pandhe, general secretary, in his concluding address greeted the delegates for the successful conclusion of the conference and appreciated the way delegates participated in the discussions.

While explaining various features of the present day situation, he underscored the importance of united actions and also the necessity of launching powerful independent initiatives. He exhorted the delegates to increase the membership of the CITU to 5 lakhs by the time of holding the next state conference.

Pandhe also called upon the delegates, to actively prepare for the all India conference and take the message of the conference to every nook and corner of the state.

A 33 member strong, secretariat with J Hemachandran, MLA, as president, A Soundararajan as new general secretary, P M Kumar as treasurer was elected by the conference. T K Rengarajan and A K Padmanabhan are among the 13 vice-presidents. R Singaravelu, P Marimuthu, T N Nambirajan are the new assistant general secretaries. The secretariat has four women members. The new state committee has 120 members, including the secretariat and it has 13 women as members.

As part of the CITU-ILO programme on child labour, two schools are being run in Sivakasi and Kanchipuram.

The children from Sivakasi organised a cultural programme for about one hour on August 8. The audience was thrilled by their performance.

When it was informed to the audience that the ILO assistance to these schools would stop by this October, many have assured to contribute about Rs 1.5 lakh to run both the schools.

RALLY

A massive procession was taken on the concluding day of the conference, August 10, which culminated in a public rally. Thousands of women participated in the rally and procession.

In view of the all India conference to be held in Chennai, mobilisation for this rally was limited to the southern districts only.

M K Pandhe, W R Varadarajan, T K Rengarajan, J Hemachandran, A K  Padmanabhan, A Soundararajan, P Indira and  Malathi addressed the rally. Cultural programmes were also held during the rally.

With the successful conclusion of the conference, the delegates returned with more confidence for undertaking powerful movements so as to meet the challenges ahead. With the state government ferociously attacking the working people in the state, more struggles are bound to develop in the state.

Next few months will also see the hectic preparations for the all India CITU conference in Chennai.