GUWAHATI, April 10 � �To uproot corruption from our society, the common people would have to develop a strong feeling of hatred towards the corrupt practices in the society. Instead of blaming others for not doing enough to stop corruption, we need to contribute our bit to deal with the menace.�
While speaking as the chief guest of the 55th annual convention of the Assam Tribune Employees Union (ATEU) here today, educationist Hitesh Deka said this, further stressing the need of a strong public movement to stop corruption in the society.
Delving on a range of subjects, including the role of media in the society, Deka said that the newspapers of the Assam Tribune Group have a distinguished space in the hearts of the people of Assam and newspapers published by the group have been able to maintain their integrity.
Deka urged the ATEU to consider the proposal of instituting a national award in the name of Singhapurush Radha Govinda Baruah, an architect of modern Assam. He also asked to establish an information centre in Tribune premises to help students, which can also be a meeting point of the intellectuals, etc., and publication of more children�s literature by Sahitya Prakash.
Lauding the role of the Assam Tribune Group in implementing the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board, noted trade union leader Basudev Kalita said that it has created an example before the entire country.
�The ATEU has its own distinguished space in the trade union movement of the State and it has always raised its voice against the plight of working class people. After the implementation of the new wage board in its own organization the union also strongly voiced its concern on the need to implement the wage board recommendations in the other newspaper organizations of the State,� said Kalita, speaking as the designated speaker of the occasion.
In the recently held election of the ATEU, Saifuddin Ahmed has been elected as the president, Siba Prasad Deka as the vice-president and Dugdha Ram Kalita as the general secretary of the union. Debasish Sinha and Tankeswar Kakati have been elected as assistant secretary, Deben Mahanta has been elected as organizing secretary and Om Prakash Singh has been elected as treasurer. Anima Das, Utpal Karmakar, Moloyjyoti Das, Shyam Kr Singha, Apu Mazumdar and Kamaleswar Sarma have been elected as the executive members of the executive committee for 2012-13. The new committee was introduced to the gathering by chief election officer Bipin Chandra Sarma.
Reading out the proposals taken by the union, Siba Prasad Deka said the union has taken proposal against corruption and unabated price rice and has also taken proposal to raise its voice for implementation of wage board recommendations in other newspaper houses of the State and the country.
Earlier, the chairman of the reception committee for the 55th convention, Atul Chandra Baisya delivered the welcome speech and stressed the need of unity among the workers. Debasish Sinha explained the objectives of the meeting and Dugdha Ram Kalita read out the secretarial report, in which he also threw light on the people�s and trade unions� movement throughout the world. Kalita also spoke about the impact of Union and State budgets on the people of Assam. Senior sub-editor of The Assam Tribune Santanava Hazarika recited a poem written by Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
In his presidential address, Saifuddin Ahmed called upon all the people-work towards building a strong society. Trade union leader Khanin Das also spoke on the occasion. The convention was followed by a cultural evening.
