MODI GOVT'S SURGICAL STRIKE ON RAILWAYS AND DEFENCE EMPLOYEES
M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers
The BJP- led NDA Government has
intensified it's policy attack on Railways and Defence establishments and
employees.
ATTACK ON RAILWAYS.
After the Narendra Modi
Government coming to power 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed in
Railways. A committee headed by Sri Bibek Deb Roy , Member , NITI Ayog
(National Institute for Transformation of India Ayog) was appointed for restructuring
of Railways. The committee recommended complete privatisation of Railways. AIRF
in its resolution adopted in the 92nd Annual Conference held at Allahabad from
8th to 10th December 2016, stated as follows:
"NDA Government assumed
power on 26th May 2016. The General Body meeting of AIRF held on 3rd and 4th
July 2016 at Chennai, decided to defer the strike decision to provide time to
the new Government to settle and resolve grievances. But the same Government by
a notification dated 22nd August 2014, decided to induct 100% FDI in Indian
Railways, Defence establishments etc. The Government appointed a high
level Railway Restructuring Committee, on 22nd September 2014, headed by Sri
Bibek Deb Roy, for restructuring Railways. The same committee had drawn a road
map for privatisation and went ahead gradually, despite all out protest by
AIRF. "
The merger of the Railway Budget
with the General Budget was one of the key recommendations on Bibek Deb Roy
committee, as an important step towards privatisation of Railways.
Government has implemented the decision from this year onwards, on top priority
basis. It is also reported in the media that Government has decided to
privatise heritage and tourist Railways like Kalka - Shimla, Siliguri -
Darjeeling and Nilgiri (Ootty) railways. BIBEK DEB ROY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE BEGIN ING OF THE END OF THE GOVT OWNED INDIAN RAILWAYS.
To add insult to injury, the
Railway Board has issued orders curtailing the basic trade union rights of
Railway employees. AIRF circular issued on 2nd February 2017 reads as follows:
"In continuation of our
earlier letter of even no. dated 1st February 2017, you are
advised to observe "Black Day"
on 6th February 2017 wearing black badges/ribbons, right from branch
to zonal levels, at all important offices of your Railway administrations, DEMANDING WITHDRAWAL OF RAILWAY BOARD'S
LETTER DATED 31.01.2017, WHEREIN THE BOARD HAVE DECIDED TO DEBAR SUPERVISORS
(IN ERSTWHILE GRADE PAY OF 4200) WORKING IN SAFETY CATEGORIES FROM TRADE
UNION".
AIRF statement also said that the
order is in violation of 87th ILO Convention and Indian Trade
Union Act.
Railway order says that those supervisors working in safety categories cannot become
office bearers of unions/Associations/Federations, but can only remain as
members with effect from 01.04.2017.
The above is the present
situation in Indian Railways and all the Railway unions/Associations/Federations
are conducting various protest programmes (other than strike as dominant
organisations are yet to take such a decision) against the policy offensives of
the NDA Govt. Recently on 1st & 2nd February 2017, Dakshin Railway
Employees Union (DREU) , All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), All
India Station Masters Association (AISMA) , All India Guard Council , Indian
Railway Technical Supervisors Association etc. (other than AIRF and NFIR) had
organised a massive National Convention and also Parliament March at New Delhi
, demanding no privatisation and modifications in the 7th CPC recommendations.
ATTACK ON DEFENCE SECTOR
The situation in Defence sector
is also not different. All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) in its
circular dated 04.02.2017, has conveyed the following developments to its rank
and file:
"The ordnance factories are
under severe attack due to the policies being adopted by the BJP - led NDA
Government. Instead of developing and strengthening the ordnance factories, the
Govt. is disowning the same and is planning fully to proceed to weaken the
ordnance factories. Licences are being given to private companies for defence
manufacturing including for those products which are being manufactured in the
ordnance factories."
In a meeting of Senior Officers held
on 5th January 2017, the Secretary, Ministry of Defence made
the following comments –
"You have to reduce the cost,
otherwise you will not get workload in future, you have to compete with the
private sector for getting workload. Two years is the period for ordnance
factories."
Recently Sri Manohar Parikar,
Defence Minister , who visited AFK Pune , in the meeting held with unions has
stated that ---" Factories which are manufacturing clothing and leather
items are not required in the Government. These items can easily be procured
from private sector."
The proposal of corporatisation
(which is a step towards privatisation) is also under consideration
with Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Govt has constituted another committee to
identify low technology/noncore items. It is seen from the press reports that a
committee constituted by Defence Minister under the chairmanship of one retired
IIM Professor has recommended for creation of a new independent organisation
outside the Ministry of Defence to undertake defence procurement. It is
understood that a new organisation tentatively called the "DEFENCE ACQUISITION AUTHORITY" will be fully
responsible for the entire process of acquisition.
All these policy decisions of the
Government will have serious impact on the existence of ordnance factories and
on the job security of defence civilian employees. AIDEF has decided to convene
a meeting of ordnance factory unions to take a serious stock of the situation
and formulate an action plan to fight back.
THIS GOVT WILL UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF STRIKE ONLY. CONFEDERATION IS
ON THE RIGHT PATH.
Confederation of Central
Government Employees & Workers, representing about thirteen lakhs Central
Government Employees, which always stood in the forefront of the struggle
against neo-liberal reforms and anti-people, anti -worker policies of the
Govt. and also which conducted series of agitational programmes including
strikes against the policy offensives of the Government, extends full support
and solidarity to the Railway and Defence employees in their struggle for
existence.
Confederation calls upon
the entire Central Govt. employees to make the 16th March 2016 one day strike a
thundering success. Let us be ready for an indefinite strike, if situation
warrants.
M. KRISHNAN
Secretary General , Confederation of Central Govt
Employees & Workers
Mob& WhatsApp : 09447068125
Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
