People's Democracy

MAHARASHTRA

CITU Holds 12th State Conference

P R Krishnan

THE 12th Maharashtra state conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions was held from February 19-21 in Aurangabad. The reception committee had made elaborate arrangements for the success of the conference. The entire city of Aurangabad and its suburbs were decorated with red flags, banners and posters. The venue of the conference was named Comrade Jyoti Basu Nagar and the conference hall was named Comrade Prabhakar Sanzgiri Sabhagriha and the stage, Comrade Madan Phadnis Manch. The accommodation camp for the delegates was named �Comrade Ahilyatai Ranganekar Nagar�.

350 delegates participated in the conference from various districts representing different industries. A significant feature was the representation of 95 women delegates. The inaugural function and the delegate session of this three day conference was held at the famous Sant Eknath Rang Mandir in the heart of this medieval town while the open rally was held at Zilla Parishad Maidan.

The conference proceedings began with the flag hoisting by CITU�s state president L K Bajaj followed by floral tributes to the martyrs and a welcome speech by reception committee chairman Pradip Jaiswal, MLA. This was preceded by introductory speeches by CITU state general secretary Dr D L Karad, reception committee convenor Udhav Bhavalkar and secretary, Damodar Mankape. CITU�s all India president M K Pandhe inaugurated the conference. Pandhe in his speech dealt with the national and international situations with special emphasis on the working class problems. He  said just as the workers in India are fighting against the dangers of globalisation, the working class in other parts of the world are also engaged in fierce battle against the onslaught of this policy. He in that context referred to the forthcoming 13th all India conference of CITU. He said that the five day conference to be held in Chandigarh, Punjab on March 17-21 will have the participation of 2500 elected delegates coming from all parts of the country and they will deliberate and decide the future course of action against all anti working class and anti people policies of the congress led UPA government. A special feature of this all India conference would be that it will be attended by delegates from 40 foreign countries including America, Britain, Japan, France, Germany, Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and others.

After condolence resolution on Comrade Jyoti Basu and other leaders and martyrs was moved by Narsaya Adam Master. Dr D L Karad, the Maharashtra state committee general secretary placed the report for discussion. K R Raghu, treasurer, placed the statement of income and expenditure report. This was followed by discussion amongst the delegates. In all, 58 delegates including 19 women delegates participated in the discussions.

Earlier, the inaugural session of the conference had the presence of a good number of fraternal delegates. Many of them were from Aurangabad. Amongst them, those who greeted the delegates were R G Karnik, president of Maharashtra State Government Employees Confederation. AITUC leaders Sukumar Damle and Dr Balchandra Kango, All India Agriculture Workers� Union vice president Kumar Siralkar, National Railway Mazdoor Union president Y G Joshi, All India Kisan Sabha state president Jiva Pandu Gavit, Democratic Youth Federation of India, state secretary Bhausaheb Zirpe and All India Democratic Women�s Association state secretary Madhury Kshirsagar. The Kerala state labour minister P K Gurudasan�s message was read out by Dr S K Rege, CITU state secretary.

Participants in the public rally at Zilla Parishad Grounds comprised of activists from AIKS, AIAWU, AIDWA, SFI, DYFI and academicians from teaching community. The women�s participation in the rally was impressive. Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) who was to address this meeting could not come as he was preoccupied with the budget session of the parliament. M K Pandhe was the main speaker in the rally. Others who spoke in this meeting were K L Bajaj, D L Karad, Narsaya Adam Master, Sayeed Ahmed, Amrut Meshram, Udhav Bhaswalkar, Subha Shamim and Damodar Mankape. Before the public meeting, the reception committee had organised a colourful procession wending its way and passing through Kranti Chowk, Paithan Gate and Gulmandi. This was one of the most attractive processions of the working people in recent period in the city of Aurangabad. In all, the conference passed 15 resolutions on various issues affecting the working class and the people. It is important to note here that an 11 member adhoc committee for organising the working women has been constituted with Subha Shamim as convener. A five member presidium comprising of Narsaya Adam Master, Armaity Irani, Sayed Ahamed, V V Asai, and Sitaram Thombre conducted the proceedings.         

The conference elected a 73 member state council. It comprises of 31 office bearers with Narsaya Adam Master as new president, Dr D L Karad as general secretary and K R Raghu as treasurer. K L Bajaj who was earlier general secretary and then president of the state committee for a long time was profusely thanked by the delegates for his guidance and leadership. He now continues as vice president in the new committee. M K Pandhe was present throughout the three day conference. In the summing up speech, Pandhe said the deliberations in this conference will certainly help strengthening the CITU in Maharashtra. Udhav Bhawalkar, the reception committee convenor and Amrut Meshram proposed a vote of thanks.

One of the significant decisions of this time�s state conference is to start a trade union school in Maharashtra. This will be named as Comrade Prabhakar Sanzgiri Trade Union School. A five lakh rupee fund will be raised for this purpose.