GUWAHATI, Feb 3 � The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Assam State Committee on Wednesday lambasted the Governments at the Centre and the State for following economic liberalisation policies without considering the repercussions it would have on the life of the common people. Calling upon the Government to learn from the global meltdown, the committee pointed out that the need of the hour was more government spending to tide over the crisis.
Addressing media persons here, the committee informed that its ensuing three-day convention from February 7 would highlight the impact of the new economic policies on the socio-economic life of the general people.
�Because of the liberalisation policies, the price of all essential commodities including various food items has gone up which has hit the common people hard,� said Deven Bhattacharya, general secretary of the committee.
Expressing concern at the alleged indifference of the government towards the grievances of the people, Bhattacharya said that whether it was price rise, unemployment or issues such as social insecurity of the unorganised sector, the government has ignored all of these problems.
Stating that the unemployment problem of the State would be addressed to a great extent through industrialisation, Bhattacharya urged more government investment to trigger industrialisation in the real sense in the State. �At this hour it would be foolish to expect investment from the private parties. It is the government that must act,� he stressed.
It needs to be mentioned here that the committee is also considering launching a movement against price rise and this matter would be discussed at its forthcoming convention. The convention will begin with an open session slated on February 7 at 12 pm at Sonaram High School field.
The convention will also observe on the plight of the unorganised sector workers in the State. �Assam has around 80 lakh workers in the unorganised sector,� said Bhattacharya lamenting that this sector was the worst affected by the unchecked price rise. He further castigated the government for not increasing the minimum wage of the tea garden workers which at present was Rs 58 in the Brahmaputra Valley and Rs 52 in the Barak Valley.
�We have been demanding of the government to increase the minimum wage of the tea garden workers to Rs 100,� said Bhattacharya announcing that the committee will participate in the country wide jail bharo programme on March 5 supported by 9 trade union organisations.
