WOMEN'S WORKSHOP CONFEDERATION
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
REPORT ON THE TWO-DAY
ALL INDIA WOMEN’S WORKSHOP
HELD AT HYDERABAD ON
9-10 OF OCTOBER 2015
Mehadi Manzil, Income Tax
employees Quarters located at Hyderabad has been the buzz of activity with
reverberating assertive voice of the women employees of the various Departments
of the Central Government, who congregated from all over the country for a
two-day workshop. This workshop is organized under the aegis of Confederation
of Central Government employees and workers.
The programme commenced with the hoisting of
Confederation Flag by Com. Usha Bonepalli, Chair Person, Women’s Sub-Committee
accompanied by com. R. Seethalakshmi, Convenor, Women’s Sub-Committee. Led by
Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation all the Secretariat members
and women delegates paid floral tributes to Com. S. K. Vyasji and other
martyrs.
Inaugural Session on 09-10-2015 commenced with the warm
welcome address by Com. V. Nageswara Rao, General Secretary, Confederation of
AP and Telangana State. Com. Usha Bonepalli with her thought provoking
Presidential address set the tone of the Workshop.
Com. Hemalatha, Convenor, All India Working Women’s
Coordination & National Secretary, CITU inaugurated the Workshop with her
insightful address on the topic “ Indian Working Class – Challenges and Our
Task”. Com. Hemalatha, recapitulating the tremendous success of the nationwide
Strike on 2nd September
2015, probed the reasons for relating the demands of the strike by different
sections of the society and the working class. The strike call was given by 11
Central Trade Unions, independent Federations and Associations.
The last minute of withdrawal by BMS saying that they are
satisfied with the positive response of the Government is most unfortunate. The
ground reality on the price rise, the minimum wages, bonus, FDI, contract
workers, casual workers is entirely different and there is no positive response
from the government. Government is openly and brazenly going ahead with the
anti worker policies with increased pace.
The participation of the large sections of the people and
workers in the strike gauges the resentment of the people at large and workers
and employees in particular. The price rise posed a big threat to the women and
common worker. The issue of minimum wage is very important issue for the lakhs
of Asha workers numbering one crore are not paid any wage by the Government.
They are paid only incentive ranging from Rupees 2000 to 3000. The other
demands like Casualization, Contract and Out sourcing, Amendment to Labour
Laws, FDI in Railways & Defence etc are the issues which are affecting the
employees and common people alike. Com. Hemalatha identifying the connecting
factor of all these ills, exhorted the employees to fight against that root
cause. The germination of all these demands of the workers is the “policy of
the successive governments”. The content of the policy has to be understood and
attacked. The names coined to dress these policies are very attractive. The
phrases like Structural changes, De-regulation, Empowering, Reform etc are
deceptive. These policies originated from the philosophy of neo-liberal
economics were implemented by the previous governments and being implemented by
the Government of the present day more vigorously are the root cause of the
misery of the common people and workers. The Trade unions, which are opposing
these policies, are branded as anti-development. The result of implementation
of these policies is maximization of profit to the national and multinational
corporates and reduction of share of wages, joblessness, casualization and
controctorisation of permanent employment pushing the large sections of the
society to poverty and insecurity.
The biggest challenge to the working class now is to
establish the credentials that it is not anti-development. The perception
and vision of the development of the rulers is not in the interest of the
majority of the population of this country. The Trade Unions are questioning
this lopsided development.
The present day labour laws are not applicable to the 94%
of the workforce of this country. Now the present Government wants to even
deprive the 6% of the workforce the protection of the labour laws. To tilt the
balance in favour of the few industrialists and give them the unchecked power
to hire and fire the amendments to the existing labour laws are proposed. The
untiring effort of the government to amend the Land Acquisition Act is only to
favour the corporates. The proposed amendment of labour laws is intended to ban
the strikes with the threat to impose a fine of Rs.25000 to 50000 and jail term
for going on strike and for encouraging the strike.
Com. Hemalatha, in her analytical address appealed to the
workers and employees to face this challenge by safeguarding the unity in spite
of the attempts to divide the workers in the name of religion, region
community, caste, gender and language. The unity emerged at the national level,
she said that, should percolate to the grass root level. The unity should be
achieved by crossing the barriers of organized, unorganized, central, state and
private employees. Concluding her speech com. Hemalatha gave a call to the
entire women employee to play a larger role in building up such a united
movement to safeguard the interest of this country.
The Second lecture is delivered by an eminent and
well-known Social Scientist Professor, G. Haragopal, Fellow ICSSR, Tata
Institute of Social Sciences and a visiting Professor National School of Law,
Bengaluru. His talk is on “Neo-liberal economic model – Women”. In his
inimitable way he explained how the assumption of the capitalist philosophy
that the human beings are driven by self-interest. They are self centered, egoistic,
autonomous is erroneous and more particularly in the case of women. Women gives
life, nurtures that life sacrificing everything and by any stretch of
imagination women can be called a human being driven by self-interest. He
explained how the capitalism rocks the women of her essence, dignity and
equality. He thoroughly exposed the hollowness of the assumption of the
capitalism that human beings are driven by self-interest etc. In the Capitalism
the labour of millions of women is going unrecognized because of the value
system. The violence against the women became structural. Patriarchal values
extended to work place and harassed and attacked the women dignity. The
neo-liberal model has gone one step ahead and defined human being selfish and
concern for others come from the weakness of the incomplete human being. It
replaced the meaningful life with comfortable life. It has dehumanized the
human being. Such philosophy is dangerous and more disasters for women. In that
frame work every relationship becomes a commodity. Prof Haragopal very
emphatically declared that the neo-liberal economic model is the negation of
the essence of human life and hence it has to be discarded. Human beings should
work for collectivism and for a better society. Women are by nature humane.
They should not only humanize the family but also should act change agents to
make the society a better place to live in.
In the afternoon session, Ms. Shyamasundari, Advocate has
taken a class on the awareness on the women’s Law. She has explained the
various legal provisions and constitutional rights of women.
Com. Mallu Swarajyam, the living legend of Telangana
Armed Struggle addressed the women delegates and inspired them. She narrated
how the common people including women fought the injustice and atrocities of
the landlords, Zamindars and Nizam. She described the valiant fight of the
great women Ilamma to protect her four acre land. She exhorted all women to
fight the present day exploitation with determination.
The first day session concluded with scintillating street
play “Veera Telangana – The Peasants Armed Struggle” by Praja Natya Mandali.
The Second day of the Workshop is presided by Com.
Seethalakshimi. She has brilliantly narrated the present day problems of the
women and need for participation of women in the union activities.
Com. Girija, Assistant General Secretary, All India
Insurance Employees Association has taken class on the topic “Role of Women in
Trade Union and Society.” She has narrated how the working women are subjected
to discrimination. She told about the absence of Committees at many work places
against the Sexual harassment of women. She vividly explained the need for
women to jointly fight with men against the anti-employee policies. She
emphasized the need for women to take part in the union activities and
responsibilities. Com. KKN, Kutty, President addressed the delegates and
briefed the latest developments. He stressed the need for making the struggle
on the demands of the central government employees a grand success by active
participation of the women comrades. In the interactive session all the members
of Secretariat of Confederation spoke and greeted the delegates. Women
delegates from various states participated in the discussion and expressed
their opinion. About 20 delegates addressed the workshop with clarity of
thought, conviction and confidence. About 200 delegates attend the workshop.
The youngest delegate is 24years of age and the oldest delegate is 59 years of
age. The Workshop ended with vote of thanks by Com. Manushi Choudary, Member of
Women’s Sub-Committee, NFPE.
The entire proceedings were conducted in a disciplined
manner. The enthusiasm shown by the women delegates, their involvement and
participation proved that the purpose of the workshop is attained. The
Reception Committee made all the arrangements for stay and to conduct the
workshop in a serene and congenial atmosphere. It is sure that the
Hyderabad Workshop shall be remembered for its rich content, hospitality and
brilliant participation for times to come.
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary
General
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