Port Blair, May 1: On the occasion of “May Day” and to express solidarity with the working class people and labours, the INTUC and its affiliated Trade Unions took out a procession on 1st May 2023 at 7.00 AM from Gandhi Bhavan which after passing through Gandhi Statue, Clock Tower, Annapurna, Atul Samiti Smriti culminated at Gandhi Bhavan.
In addition to the workers of various Govt. Departments, organized and unorganized sectors, the May Day procession was attended by a large number of senior leaders of ANTCC and its frontal organizations, Municipal Councilors and PRI members.
The whole atmosphere was filled with slogans such as “May Day Zindabad”, “Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad”, “Garibi Dur Karo” “Unemployment Dur Karo”, ”Khali Posts Jaldi Bharo” etc.
On culmination of the procession at Gandhi Bhawan, Shri KP Aboobacker, General Secretary, INTUC (ANI), Shri Mohammad Ali, Vice President, ANTCC and Shri Rangalal Halder, President ANTCC addressed the gathering and assured to fight for the legitimate rights of the working class people and Mazdoors residing in these Islands belonging to Government, private, organized and unorganized sectors. Shri. Gyan Prakash Krishna, General Secretary of state unit of INTUC and other senior office bearers of INTUC were also present during the procession and meeting.
The leaders also expressed concern over increasing unemployment, ever rising cost of living, scarcity of water, intermittent and long power cuts in these Islands.
Appeal were made to the Administration for regularisation of service of long serving casual and contractual workers of various departments, enhancement of wages of Anganwadi Workers & helpers, ASHA workers and conferring 1/30th of wage at minimum of basic pay plus DA to all DRMs engaged for carrying out regular nature of work irrespective of vacant posts in the department where they are employed, ease of doing business in tourism sector which the providing largest employment in these Islands etc.
Appeal to the Central Government was made for making appropriate law providing 100% reservation to the domicile of these Islands in government jobs pertaining to A&N Administration.