CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
ALL INDIA WOMEN'S WORKSHOP
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
