People's DemocracyTHE Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) organized dharnas and marches on tehsil headquarters all over the state of Punjab on the call of Punjab and Chandigarh state committee. There was very good response to these actions that were organised at about 30 places. A demands charter was also sent to the chief minister of Punjab; these included the local demands of the people. The major demands were for lifting of ban on recruitment in government departments, filling up of vacant posts, restoration of demolished posts, creation of new posts according to the need of the people, jobs for all or payment of unemployment allowance, loans at lowest interest rate for self-employment, stop to privatisation of public sector units, stop to pro-imperialist globalisation, implementation of the NREGA in all districts and correction in its implementation etc.
Enthusiastic marches was organized at Garhshankar, Mukerian, Nakodar, Shahkit, Pathanot, Taran Taran, Nangal, Rajpura and Samana etc.
While addressing the youth at Chandigarh, state DYFI secretary said the government is snatching jobs by implementing the policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. He added that self-employment is also in danger due to the threats of the multinational companies for the retail sector. He demanded that the NREGA should be implemented in all districts and corruption ended in its implementation. He said the Akali-BJP alliance came to power on a promise to the unemployed youth to provide them jobs, but the youth are being beaten up by the state government now. He asked the youth to strengthen the struggle to get their rights. DYFI state president Surinder Khiwa, vice president Gurnek Singh Bhajjal and other leaders also addressed the dharna.
ALL the CITU affiliated unions in Punjab and the district units of the CITU organised rallies, demonstrations and gate meetings all over the state and also in Chandigarh in support of the one day strike of employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). The call for it was given by the joint forum of various trade unions of PSEB employees.
The demonstrating unions included the Punjab Roadways Motor Mazdoor Union, Anganwadi Mulazam Union, Lal Jhanda Bhattha Workers Union, Lal Jhanda FCI Palleder and Workers Union, PRTC Motor Mazdoor Union, Lal Jhanda Janglat Workers Union and Cycle Industries Workers Union, among others.
This information was given through a press release issued from Chandigarh on February 7, by Punjab CITU, general secretary Raghunath Singh.
The statement criticised both the centre and the state government for implementing the anti-people and anti-national economic policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalization. It said that if these governments succeed in handing over the PSEB to the MNCs and Indian monopolists, our industry and agriculture would suffer a heavy loss and electricity would go out of reach of the poor people of Punjab. He further said that it is not the responsibility of PSEB employees alone to save the PSEB but the duty of all sections of society to save the PSEB and not let the government privatise it. (INN)
