Sri Vijaya Puram, May 01: Along with other parts of the country, CITU and its affiliated unions observed May Day all over the Andaman & Nicobar Islands today (1.5.2026) by organizing various programmes. At Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram), the May Day Rally was taken out from Delanipur junction, which, after touching important points of Port Blair town culminated near Municipal Council Office.
Addressing the participants in the rally, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU State Committee said that the BJP-led government and its Administration in the islands are opposing the regularization of daily rated mazdoors in the islands. He further said that while workers in Chicago city in USA fought for 8-hour work in 1886, the BJP government has introduced 12-hour work through the newly implemented Labour Codes.
D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU State Committee while addressing the gathering said that under the BJP governments in UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, etc, workers are being compelled to work for 12 hours daily for a meagre monthly wage of eleven thousand rupees. He further said that trade union rights of the workers are being curtailed in Uttar Pradesh so much so that Unions are prevented from taking out May Day Rallies.
R. Surendran Pillai, President CITU State Committee while addressing the gathering called upon the workers to strengthen CITU in the islands. Anand Rajan, Secretary, CITU State Committee also addressed the gathering. Hundreds of workers participated in the May Day Rally at Port Blair.
In the morning, CITU flags were hoisted at Crusade House, Phoenix Bay and a number of other places in the Port Blair town. Peerless Resorts Employees Union organized a May Day programme at Carbyns’ cove where CITU flag was hoisted by B. Chandrachoodan, President of the Union.
At Great Nicobar Island, May Day Rally was taken out at Campbell Bay bazaar which culminated in a meeting. Dhandapani, CITU State Committee Member, Shiva of ASNVMS and Nithin of BKU led the rally and addressed the gathering.
At Katchal, the May Day Rally was taken out which was led by Rajesh, Balamurugan and Thyagarajan of ASNVMS, Katchal Branch.
At Hut Bay, the May Day rally was taken out at Hut Bay bazar which was led by C. Rajesh, Raj Kumar and Manoj.
At Swarajdweep (Havelock), May Day Rally was taken out at Havelock bazaar which was led by Suben Bachar of A & N Forest Deptt Workers Union.
At Baratang, the May Day rally was taken out at Nilambur bazar. Daniel Aint, Vice President, CITU State Committee, Jayakumar, Secretary, Kadamtala-Baratang Zonal Committee among others, led the rally.
At Kadamtala, May Day rally was held at Kadamtala bazaar, which was led by Shipra Bala, Secretary, CITU State Committee.
At Rangat, a huge and impressive May Day Rally was taken out at Rangat Bazar which culminated in a public meeting at Rangat bazar. Projit Kr Sarkar, President, C. Karuppaiah, Secretary, CITU Rangat Zonal Committee and Ranjan Mondal, PRI Karmachari Sangh addressed the public meeting. T. Kamesh presided over the meeting.
At Billiround, the May Day Rally was taken out at Billiground bazar jointly by trade unions and All India Kisan Sabha members, Middle Andaman, which was led by SR Mridha, State Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, Nikunjo Biswas, Vice President, AIKS State Committee and Rahul Dev Mridha, President, DYFI State Committee. They also addressed the gathering.
At Mayabunder, the May Day Rally was taken out at Mayabunder bazaar which was led by M. Murugan, Secretary, CITU Mayabunder Zonal Committee, Javed Mohammed and Noorduddin of ASNVMS.
At Diglipur, the May Day Rally was taken out at Diglipur Bazar. The Rally was led by Sunil Bepari, Vice President, Barun Biswas, Secretary of CITU Diglipur Zonal Committee, V. Prasanna Kumar, Secretary, Forest Operational Employees Union, Diglipur and N. Moorthy, North Andaman Public Works Union and Shivkumar, PRI Karmachari Sangh.