Citing the example of continuing large-scale labour migration from Ganjam, the home district of Odisha Chief Minister, the State unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) alleged that the government had failed to solve burning issues related to life and livelihood of the workforce.
This came up during the Ganjam district conference of the CITU held in Berhampur on Sunday. The aim of the conference was to revitalise labour movement through proper organisation of the unorganised workers in the district so that it could become an issue-based political force. The conference was attended by trade union leaders, CPI(M) State secretary Ali Kishore Patnaik and CITU State general secretary Bishnu Mohanty.
Mr Mohanty and CITU activists demanded immediate measures to curb continuing labour migration from Ganjam district, which remains the most migration-prone region of Odisha. “These labourers from Ganjam district are skilled workers of textile and gemstone industry. But the government has failed to provide them employment in their home State because of which they migrate to Gujarat,” said Mr Mohanty.
Mr Patnaik said the situation in Ganjam district busts the myth that the State government is pro-poor and pro-labourer. Attempts are on to woo the workers through sops that have no meaning in the long run, he added.
Mr Patnaik also criticised the State government for not objecting to the ‘anti-labour’ amendments being brought in by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. He alleged that the BJD government is also working in favour of corporate houses at the cost of life and livelihood of workers in collusion with the Centre.
The CITU activists criticised both the State and the Central governments for non-materialisation of the proposed rail wagon factory in Ganjam district near Sitalapalli and demanded that the work be started as early as possible. There was also demand for making Gopalpur port fully functional as an all-weather port. The demand to increase monthly income of daily wager to at least Rs.15,000 was repeated.
