Port Blair, Feb 16: In support of the nation-wide industrial strike and Gramin Bandh by workers and farmers against the anti-worker and anti-farmer policies of the central government and also to demand regularization of services of Daily Rated Mazdoors working under the A & N Administration, the CITU has organised mass processions and public meetings across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands today (16th February, 2024).

At Port Blair, the mass procession began from the Tiranga Park in the evening, which, after making a round of the important points of the town, concluded at Tiranga Park. This was followed by a public meeting at the same place. Addressing the gathering, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee criticized the BJP-led central government for pursuing anti-worker policies in the country.  Referring to the long-pending demand of the CITU to regularize the services of the daily rated mazdoors working in various departments under the Administration, he said that the BJP government at the centre has rejected the proposal sent to it by the A & N Administration. He said that the CITU will continue to organise massive agitations in the islands in the coming days demanding regularization of DRM workers. 

Addressing the largest ever gathering at Tiranga Park, D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU State Committee briefly explained the various anti-worker and anti-farmer policies being pursued by the BJP led central government and said that almost all the trade unions in the country are jointly conducting agitation against these policies of the central government.  He briefly touched upon various long-pending burning issues of these islands like (1) increasing unemployment and lack of job (2) pathetic condition of roads, (3) corruption, etc.  Anbumalar, General Secretary, A & N ASHA Workers Union briefly explained the exploitation of the ASHA Workers as their honorarium has not been enhanced so far. P. Sathyapal and SP Kalairajan, Secretaries of CITU State Committee and D. Laxman Rao, senior leader also addressed the meeting. R. Surendran Pillai, President, presided over the meeting.

Hundreds of workers from various unions functioning at Port Blair and South Andaman areas participated in the procession and public meeting. 

At Diglipur, a largely attended procession was taken out at Diglipur bazaar in which a large number of workers participated. Sunil Bepari, President, Barun Biswas, Secretary and Dilip Karmakar, Joint Secretary, CITU Diglipur Zonal Committee led the programme. Dr Gouranga Majhi, President, A & N State Committee of All India Kisan Sabha and Sunil Bepari addressed the gathering.  

At Mayabunder, the mass procession was taken out at Mayabunder bazaar in which a large number of workers from various unions participated.  Murualidharan Pillai, President and C. Murugan, Secretary, Mayabunder Area Committee, Mohammed Zaved and Linga Swamy of ASNVMS led the mass procession.

At Billiground, the mass procession was taken out at Billiground bazaar in which workers from various unions participated. PK Khalid, Secretary, CITU State Committee, All India Kisan Sabha leaders Nikunjo Biswas and SR Mridha and Rahul Dev Mridha, President, DYFI State Committee led the programme and addressed the gathering.  

At Rangat, the mass procession was taken out at Rangat Bazar in which a large number of workers participated. Projit Kumar Sarkar, President and Karuppaiah, Secretary, CITU Rangat Zonal Committee. 

At Kadamtala, mass procession was taken out at Kadamtala Bazar.

At Baratang, the mass procession was organized at Nilambur in which workers from various unions participated. Daniel Aint, Vice President, CITU State Committee, Jayakumar, State Committee Member, Balraj, Ranjit Susan Tirkey led the programme. 

At Hut Bay, the mass procession was orgnaised at Hut Bay bazaar which was led by MA Karim, CITU leader. Workers from different unions participated.  

At Kamorta, the mass procession was taken out by members of different unions. At Katchal, the procession was organized by CITU at Kapanga. Balmurugan and Nagarajan of ASNVMS led the programme. A large number of workers participated in the programme.