TIME TO GIVE A JOLT TO AN INSENSITIVE GOVERNMENT - EDITORIAL OF “WORKING CLASS”

Apart from the multi thousand crore scam and corruption exposing the evil nexus of politicians, bureaucrats, corporates and contractors in holding the Common Wealth Game in Delhi next month, the whole exercise involving official estimate of more than Rs. 35,000 crore of public fund, shows the ugly face of “shining India” wallas in dealing with thousands of workers who literally with their sweat and blood built the so called “ World Class” facilities for this international event. World Class is the current buzz word in Delhi. A “World Class” airport’; “World Class” Metro; “World Class” roads and buildings, so and so forth. After all the capital of the ‘emerging power’ must show case itself as a ‘world class city’, as desired by ‘ Shining India Wallahs”!

In the process, thousands of beggars and thousands of homeless sleeping on the footpaths are being cleared. Hundreds of slums have been bulldozed and lakhs of people ‘relocated’ to far off places, depriving them of their livelihood. Under the very eyes of Central Government and State Government, all labour laws pertaining to minimum wages, working hours, safety and hygiene, accommodation were crumpled with impunity. More than 150 workers mostly migrant died in accidents because of unsafe condition (compared to 6 fatalities during Bejling Olympic preparations).

But then who bothers about the miserable conditions of the lakhs of the workers who are engaged in this ‘beautification’ of the city, in building a ‘world class’ city with all its ‘games villages’, stadiums, etc. They do not have ration cards. Nobody thinks of providing safe working conditions or any compensation. They are working just under the nose of the highest seat of power in the country, as bonded labour. For those who swear by the ‘AAM ADMI’ they simply do not exist. The plight of the workers, who have come from different parts of the country for Common Wealth Games work symbolises the criminal apathy in the policy of the Government to the workers in the country.

It is against such policies that deny the working class and other toiling sections of society their right to food, their right to a decent job, their trade union rights, their right to social security that Central Trade Unions have called for the all India general strike on 7th September.

A strike that will shake the Government siding with the rich to its senses. It is only the beginning of a struggle which will not relent till the Government comes to its senses.

Source: www.citucentre.org