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The Real Struggle for Life Goes On, As a Temple of Dreams Rises

Subodh Varma

Unknown to most middle class Indians who cherish their lives in the magical bubble of TV channels and social media, there is a gathering storm that is, sooner or later, going to burst in. A glimpse of it will be seen on August 9, just five days after PM Modi, clad in “golden” vestments, laid the foundation stone of the grandest of temples in Ayodhya. You may recall that August 9 is celebrated as Quit India Day, in memory of the movement of 1942, which was the final push by Indian people to be rid of the brutal British colonial rulers. This year, it will see a protest day in which lakhs of workers, employees, agricultural workers, informal sector workers, government scheme workers, and farmers will hold protest actions across the country demanding income support, more food, more jobs, end to privatisation and selling off of public assets, and other such demands, all related to protecting their lives and livelihoods, indeed their future itself. They will also show the unity of working people against religious divisions being fostered by the Bharatiya Janata Party/Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The foundation stone laying is a dream come true, as doyens of the movement demanding its construction have said. Indeed, it has led many to power that is beyond any dreams. But it is also a dream being sold to those who are struggling to survive in the face of a deadly economic crisis, that has seen record levels of joblessness, falling incomes and consumption expenditures, a deathly slowdown of the economy with consequent loss of jobs, and an increasingly unprofitable agrarian sector that has left millions of farmers pauperised. Then this year, the coronavirus pandemic struck. In four months, nearly 20 lakh persons have been infected and 40,000 have died. It is an unprecedented calamity, turned even deadlier due to the groping, stumbling leadership of the Modi government, which pretended to be strong and decisive, but allowed the pandemic to spread its tentacles to all corners of India.

The gathering storm is people rising to not only reject the politics of temple building and religious bigotry, but also demanding a better, more dignified life. Why is it a storm? Why not just one of those inconsequential protests that periodically happen? Have a look at what has been going on in different parts of the country over the past few months to understand the scale of pent-up anger and discontent. [This is not an exhaustive list, just illustrative.]

April-May 2020: “Not Speeches But Food”

Devastated by the sudden lockdown announced by Modi on March 24, lakhs of workers and employees lost their jobs and incomes, families were on the brink of starvation and a dark cloud of the pandemic stretched across the horizon, threatening all. The government refused to distribute sufficient food grain and other essentials to all needy people, refused to ensure a minimum income for families, refused to care for lakhs of migrant workers stranded in distant cities.

• On April 21, in what was perhaps the first ever protest by people against these hostile policies anywhere in the world, over 4 lakh people demonstrated outside their homes demanding relief. Organised by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), one of the biggest trade unions of India, the central slogan was “Bhashan Nahin, Ration Chahiye (Not speeches, we want food)”.
• On May 14, nearly 3 lakh frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19 held protest demonstrations across the country demanding better protective gear and better terms of service. The central slogan was “Phool Nahin, Suraksha Chahiye (Nor flowers, we want protection)”, as a counter to the government’s call to shower flowers on essential services workers.
• On May 16, called Kisan Samman Diwas (Farmers’ Honour Day) thousands of farmers held protests demanding better prices for their produce, at the call of two major joint platforms of farmers, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) and Bhumi Adhikar Andolan.
• On May 22, 11 central trade unions and dozens of independent federations joined hands in calling for a protest day demanding jobs, wages for lockdown period, protective gear, income support, more food grain for families, etc. Nearly 7 lakh workers in almost all major industrial belts took part in this huge concerted protest action.
• On May 27, another protest was organised by the AIKSCC raising the demands of farmers, with thousands participating.

June-July: Struggles Erupt

As the lockdown was eased in stages and even as the pandemic continued to spread, the government had come out with a slew of policies designed to privatise agriculture production and trade, and allowing profiteering, forced states to adopt legal measures to dilute or do away with protective labour laws in order to intensify exploitation, sped up sale of profit-making public sector units, invited foreign investment in the country’s natural resources like coal, and still refused to spend any money to provide relief to lakhs of workers and employees who had lost their jobs. In the face of this onslaught, the struggles and protests took on a wider scale.

• On June 1, over 50,000 women protested across the country at the call of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) demanding income support for needy families, more food grains, etc.
• On June 4, led by the All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), thousands of landless labourers and small farmers held protests demanding better wages, food grains and income support. Wages of agricultural workers have been practically stagnant for the past two years.
• On June 25, nearly one lakh ASHA workers held protest demonstrations across various states demanding better protective gear, better salaries and service conditions. ASHAs are village-level health workers, responsible for monitoring COVID outbreaks currently.
• On June 26, over 50,000 workers in the government-run mid-day meal programme protested against non-payment of wages and onerous conditions.
• On July 2-4, a historic three-day strike was observed by over 5 lakh coal workers to warn the government not to go ahead with inviting foreign investment in coal mining.
• On July 3, a massive protest was observed across the country with over 10 lakh workers participating at the joint call of 11 central trade unions and independent federations. They were demanding better wages, income support to needy families, food grains, and end to privatisation and dilution or scrapping of labour laws.
• On July 10, around 2 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers protested against squeezing of funds from the ICDS and closure of anganwadis during lockdown period, causing an expected surge in malnutrition among children.
• On July 13, over two lakh construction workers protested against the merging of a law specifically meant for their protection with the general Code, and diversion of its fund collected to other purposes.
• On July 16-17, CITU led demonstrations at over 700 railway stations across the country to protest against privatisation of railways announced by the Modi government.
• On July 23, a workers-peasants joint demands day was observed with over 2 lakh people participating. Called for by the CITU, AIKS and AIAWU, they were protesting against ordinances on privatisation of agricultural trade, scrapping of labour laws and for basic needs.

August: Scale and Sweep Increases

Many big protests are emerging and planned for this month as the diverse struggles of the past few months coalesce, and gain strength. Meanwhile, numerous smaller struggles are taking place all over the country as angry people fight back despite the raging pandemic.

• On August 4, over 80,000 defence production employees held demonstrations at the gates of their production units protesting against the impending privatisation ordered by the “patriotic” Modi government.
• On August 5, thousands of road transport workers held protests across India, at the call of the joint platform of Central Trade Unions. They were demanding revocation of a new law that favours big transport companies. App-based transport employees too joined in.

In the coming days, two major actions are already planned and preparations are in full swing. On August 7-8, an unprecedented strike by all scheme workers – numbering over 60 lakh – has been called by the joint platform of central trade unions. And then on 9 August, again at the joint platform’s call, but supported by the AIKSCC, a gigantic jail bharo satyagraha is going to take place.

This then is the way the storm of peoples’ discontent has gathered and is now challenging the Modi government. It is the fundamental battle of our times, taking on all the ills of the present regime and asking for an alternative path for India. It is this that will build the future of India, not the dreams of temples.

(Subodh Varma is a senior Indian journalist.)

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Nationwide Call to ‘Save India’ Observed by Over 1 Crore Working People

Ronak Chhabra

August 9, the day in 1942 when Mahatma Gandhi called for the British colonisers to ‘Quit India, as ‘do or die’ or a final push to eject them from the country, was observed as ‘Save India’ day by over one crore of the working population across the country on Sunday, said central trade unions.

The call to ‘Save India’ was given by 10 central trade unions (CTUs) to protest against the “anti-people” policies pushed by the Narendra Modi government under the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The call saw wide participation across states, where farmers, teachers, students, public sector employees along with other sections of labourers came out on the streets across states, protesting massive job losses, wage cuts, lay-off and privatisation among others.

Street meetings were held across states, where the government decisions, ostensibly to achieve an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (or self- reliance India), were flayed by the protesting workers’ organisations, saying these would eventually go against national interests as national assets were proposed to be sold to private and foreign entities.

Demonstrations were held at more than one lakh places which saw a cumulative participation of more than one crore people, said a joint statement by the 10 CTUS — CITU, AITUC, AICCTU, HMS, INTUC, AIUTUC, SEWA, TUCC, LPF, and UTUC. Notably, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed BMS stayed away from the joint TU action.

The Central government “has demonstrated cruel insensitivity of the basic human needs of the workers and the people. This cannot be endorsed and cooperated with,” the statement added.

According to reports gathered by Newsclick, in many states and workplaces, owing to imposition of total lockdown on Sundays, protests were either postponed for a day or were staged a day earlier – making it a three-day ‘Save India’ campaign.

This was the third pan-India protest by trade unions, spread across occupational sectors, to be staged in less than three months to press for an alternative path in handling the pandemic as well as a disrupted economy, at a time when the surge in infection cases continues, with a countrywide tally of over 21 lakh cases.

Notably, at almost every protest venue, there was massive participation by scheme workers, such as ASHAs or Accredited Social Health Activists and National Health Mission (NHM) workers, who are the at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19, Aanganwadi workers and helpers and mid-day meal workers, who had held a countrywide two-day strike on August 7 and 8 demanding recognition as ‘worker’ as opposed to ‘volunteer’, and minimum wages instead of ‘honorarium’.

Having played a crucial role in ensuring healthcare to rural households for all these years, the scheme workers are also at the forefront in assisting the government in its battle against the spread of coronavirus, risking their lives.

Government employees in various public sector undertakings also took part in the protest reiterating their opposition to privatisation and commercialisation of strategically core sectors, such as defence, Railways, coal, telecommunication etc.

Trade unions said they would continue their movement and further agitational programmes are scheduled to be organised in offices and work facilities on Monday. These will be mainly held by bank employees and those of state telecom major, BSNL, among others.

In May, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a new Public Sector Enterprises Policy, under which all but maximum of four public sector companies in strategic sectors were set to get privatised. This also included commercialisation of coal mining, along with corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board.

This has agitated workers across sectors, whose unions have conducted a sustained campaign and are planning sectoral strikes.

On August 18, coal miners have given a call for a one-day strike, after striking work in at least 400 mines and 75 establishments for three days last month.

Beginning October 12, a total of 82,000 defence employees are planning to go on an indefinite strike.

On Sunday, major industrial towns reverberated with slogans by factory workers against the dismantling of the labour regulations under the pretext of COVID-19 and the impending codification of the labour laws.

In Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, several protestors courted arrest to register their anger towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for adding to the miseries to the people.

In the rural areas, farmers and agricultural workers protested against agri trade ordinances, which they fear will attract the private sector to agriculture marketing.

The recent past has witnessed major protests led by farmers’ bodies in at least two states – Punjab and Madhya Pradesh – which saw wide participation.

In the national capital, the CTU leaders gathered at Jantar Mantar, where hundreds had reached for a demonstration.

Addressing the gathering, Tapan Sen, general secretary, CITU said: “the working class of this nation will not allow the selling of the nation. In the coming days, more agitational programmes in this direction will be charted out.”

He referred to the recent policy decisions as an “ full frontal attack” on the people of the nation.

(Ronak Chhabra is a Bengaluru based reporter. Article courtesy Newsclick.in.)

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Workers, Farmers Come Together for ‘Save India Day’, Protest Centre’s Policies

Kabir Agarwal

Most Indian states saw groups of workers and farmers take to the streets on Sunday to protest against government policies which they claim benefit the corporate sector to the detriment of workers and farmers.

Their ire was directed at three recently introduced ordinances in the agriculture sector, the decision by some states to suspend or dilute labour laws, working conditions and low remuneration for sanitation workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, high unemployment rates and proposed privatisation of public services.

The protest was coordinated by Left-affiliates All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and a motley group of around 200 organisations that are a part of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) which was formed after the Mandsaur farmers’ agitation of 2017. The organisations termed the protest ‘Save India Day’, ostensibly to strive to ‘save India’ from the Centre’s policies which they described as ‘anti-farmer’ and ‘anti-worker’.

“Denial of employment and wage reduction have to be unitedly combated. The MSMEs themselves are reporting that 30% to 35% units may not be in a position to start their activities. The unemployment rate is high and job losses continue. Malnutrition will increase, hunger deaths will become a daily reality, and there is real threat of depression resulting in suicides amongst workers, say eminent scientists and medical experts. All these issues are enraging workers,” the organisations said in a statement.

The protests included motorbike and cycle rallies, processions and tractor mobilisations in different parts of the country. Kuldeep Singh, a farmer who owns four acres of land, had joined the protest in Hisar, Haryana and said that the government ought to ensure that farmers’ produce is procured.

“The government is not purchasing our produce and instead is bringing in these new laws (ordinances) which are anti-farmer. They will only benefit big companies who are friends with the government. We are demanding that the government abandon the new laws and increase procurement at minimum support prices (MSP),” he said.

Farmers’ organisations have argued that the government’s move to allow contract farming will mean that large corporations can enter the sector which, they argue, will be a disadvantage for farmers.

“We have seen this happen in Himachal as the Adani group has entered the apple sector. Growers have to go to them and take whatever price they are offering. It is a major problem and growers are made helpless. This will happen more and more if contract farming comes in,” said Sanjay Chauhan, former mayor of Shimla and finance secretary of the Himachal Kisan Saba.

The organisations have also argued that the government’s move to allow trade of agriculture produce outside the boundaries of the agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) will pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) regime. This, they say, will not be acceptable to farmers.

They have demanded that instead the government should ensure that the MSP is set at cost plus 50%, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission on farmers, and that MSP be made a legal right for farmers.

The organisations have also demanded that diesel prices be slashed. “Diesel costs have increased by more than 50% in two years and MSP has not even increased 5%. Other costs which farmers have to incur have also gone up. But our incomes have not increased,” said Singh.

The outfits that organised the protest also said that the suspension of labour laws for a period of time by some states such as Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh must be revoked. The changes, according to the organisations, will lead to exploitation of workers and are against the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The trade unions reiterated their stance against the proposed privatisation of public sector enterprises (PSUs) and the opening up of foreign investment in core sectors. “The Government continues with its arrogant attitude of going ahead with privatisation and sale of PSUs, and dangerously liberalising foreign entry in vital sectors of the economy like defence production from 49 to 74 per cent along with corporatisation of 41 ordnance factories for privatisation; it is also going ahead with its project of privatising Indian Railways in phases, the latest being its destructive decision of privatising 151 train services in highly remunerative routes to facilitate private players to make huge profit using infrastructure and manpower of Indian Railways,” they said.

ASHA workers, who have been protesting for the last several days, also joined the protests on Sunday. Their key demands include better pay, formalisation of employment status and better availability of protective gear in their role as frontline workers in the COVID-19 crisis.

“The ASHA workers are at the forefront of the battle against coronavirus. They are working round the clock everyday and risking their lives and the lives of their families,” said Shweta Raj of the Dilli Asha Kamgar union.

The health workers earn as little as Rs 3,000 a month and are contractual employees, without the benefits that full-time government employees can obtain. In some states, like Bihar, even the paltry amount that is due to them every month has not been paid in the last few months.

(Kabir Agarwal is a reporter at The Wire.)