GUWAHATI, April 8 - �Unnecessary amendments in the labour laws in the nation would prove harmful not just for the workers but also for the roots of democracy in the nation,� said eminent educationist and Head, Department of Law & Dean, Faculty of Law, Gauhati University Professor (Dr) RC Borpatra Gohain, while addressing the 59th annual conference of the Assam Tribune Employees� Union (ATEU) today in the Tribune Building premises.
Pointing out the possible consequences of the proposed amendments, he stated that though the British had brought some laws in India with the objective to rule the country, it still had some humane aspects, with several provisions for the welfare of the working people.
�Now, when we have our own government and a Constitution to safeguard our rights, giving us justice, equality, liberty and universal brotherhood, we need to ensure proper security of the both organized and unorganized sector of working class,� he added.
Lauding the ATEU and the Assam Tribune Group for setting example by implementing the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board, he said that other newspaper organizations should derive inspiration from this example.
Dr Barpatra Gohain also voiced concern over what he said was an act of vandalism on the Ahom-age maidams (tombs) by archaeological authorities in the name of excavation. �The tombs are being dug up haphazardly and never restored to their original conditions. This is sheer negligence and irresponsibility on the part of the government authorities,� he said, adding that the deplorable condition of the famed Samdhara Garh (rampart) which stretched to a length of 41 km on both the North Bank and the South Bank was another illustration of government�s apathy to the State�s unique heritage.
Pradip Kumar Baishya, General Secretary, SBI Staff Association, North Eastern Circle, asked the workers to unite to fight against the anti-people and anti-workers policies being supported by the capitalist forces throughout the world. �Such policies would only benefit the rich and the affluent, and would bring untold sufferings for the workers,� he added.
Earlier, Hiranya Kumar Barman, Chief Election Officer of the ATEU informed the gathering that about 92.2 per cent voting was recorded in the ATEU elections this time for electing its new executive committee. Postal ballot was also introduced for the employees posted outside Guwahati.
The new executive committee 2016-17 has Siba Prasad Deka as president, Manoranjan Sarkar as vice president, Dugdha Ram Kalita as general secretary, Tankeswar Kakati and Apu Mazumdar as assistant general secretaries, Anima Das as organizing secretary and Utpal Karmakar as treasurer. Six members of the committee include Shyam Singh, Tulika Pathak, Nesim Sultana, Ramen Phukan, Falguni Barman and Rakhi Sarma.
General Secretary Dugdha Ram Kalita read out the secretary�s report raising concern on the spiralling prices of the essential commodities and rampant corruption and nepotism prevailing in the nation. He also raised the Union�s demand of State pension for all the media workers of the State.
Addressing the gathering, ATEU president Siba Prasad Deka, reiterated the Union�s stand of raising the issues concerning the media workers of the State. He asked the working class people to fight for their rights, which would strengthen the workers� movement.
Union member Pankaj Borthakur read out the proposal taken up by the Union this time that included Majithia Wage Board implementation in all the newspapers, measures for arresting price rise, protest against proposed amendment of the labour laws and promotion of peace, harmony and brotherhood among the people of the State.
Reception committee convenor Tankeswar Kakati explained the objectives of the meeting, while the chairman of the committee Atulya Madhab Goswami delivered the welcome speech. A cultural programme followed the event.
