Traditional industries near elimination

Traditional industries near elimination

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 3, 2016: The JCTU, Joint Committee of Trade Unions of Udupi district has alleged that increasing liberalisation and globalisation process has resulted in the destruction of traditional occupations.  Speaking at a protest rally taken out to mark Labour Day, CITU District Secretary Balakrishna Shetty said the government should be held responsible for the decline in occupations which were practised since olden times.

He said the increase in farmer suicide cases is due to the hike in the import of foodgrains from other countries. This has reduced the price of the crops grown by the farmers in the country. The farmers, who borrow or pledge their assets for cultivation of crops, are unable to repay the loan and get back their pledged assets, he added.

Shetty said privatisation of educational institutions on a large scale snatches the privilege of education from the labour class as they will be unable to bear the expenses, he said.  He said traditional industries like tile and Beedi factories are on the verge of extinction, especially in Udupi.

Tile factories have given jobs to thousands of labourers. Three tile factories have shut down back to back in the district and many labourers have lost jobs. Udupi, considered as a highly literate and a developed district, is also not a safe terrain for agricultural activities. Five farmers have committed suicide the district, he regretted.

Shetty stressed on the need for a fierce struggle to claim the rights of the labourers.  He said the government’s decision to curb PF facilities for the labourers is totally unjust. The garment workers’ protest in Bengaluru against the Central government has inspired labourers across the country, he stated and strongly condemned the police violence against the agitators, especially on women workers.  He demanded that the minimum wage for the labourers be hiked up to Rs 18,000.

The labour organisations are planning a nationwide rally on September 2 to protest against the Union government’s failure to assure job security to the labour class.