Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 29: The 43rd Death Anniversary of veteran trade union leader Comrade PKS Prasad was observed throughout the Andaman & Nicobar Islands today (29th January, 2026). The Main function was jointly organised by CITU and Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association at Crusade House premises at Phoenix Bay, Port Blair. R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee presided over the function. KG Das, former General Secretary, Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association while addressing the gathering recalled the valiant struggles conducted by Com PKS Prasad in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He said that the present government is showing fascistic tendencies while dealing with the issues of government employees and workers and pensioners.
Speaking on the occasion, D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU State Committee said that whatever benefits government employees and workers are enjoying now are the outcome of the struggles conducted by the Association and trade unions in the islands particularly under the leadership of Com PKS Prasad during the 1960s and 1970s. He said that the present struggle of the trade unions and government employees’ organisations are only to protect the existing benefits enjoyed by the working class. He said that the present government is bringing legislation in Parliament to curtail the benefits already enjoyed by the people. He referred to the recently introduced VB GRAMG to replace the MGNREGA which provided 100 days’ job to rural jobless people.
Nazreen Begum of NGOs’ Association called upon government employees and workers to remain united to fight the anti-employee policies being pursued by the government. SP Kalairajan, Secretary, CITU State Committee also addressed the gathering.
At Diglipur, CITU flags were hoisted at various villages as part of the programme. A meeting was organized which was addressed by Sunil Bepari, Vice President and Barun Biswas, Secretary, Diglipur Zonal Committee of CITU and AVA Samad.
At Betapur, Middle Andaman, a meeting was organized in which struggles conducted by PKS Prasad were recalled by speakers. PK Khalid, Secretary, CITU State Committee and SR Mridha, former Vice President of NGOs’ Association addressed the meeting.