MODI GOVT'S SURGICAL STRIKE ON RAILWAYS AND DEFENCE EMPLOYEES
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.
Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/
