GUWAHATI, May 1 � May Day was observed in the State today along with the rest of the country with a fervent appeal to the working class to unite and fight for their legitimate dues.
In the city, the occasion was centrally observed at the Lakshmiram Baruah Sadan ground at Dighalipukhuripar with the May Day flag unfurled at 3 pm. This was followed by a public meeting and a procession. Different trade unions including CITU, AITUC, AICTU, AIUTUC, UTUC, HMS, unions of State and Central government employees, bank and insurance employees, railway employees, and the Assam Tribune Employees� Union (ATEU), participated in the event.
The speakers at the meeting came down heavily on what they said were the anti-people policies pursued by the Centre at the behest of the global capitalist lobbies. �Liberalization and globalization have resulted in the ongoing economic crisis and the capitalist countries have been the worst-hit. It has also spelt doom for the common people, especially the working class. While the capitalist governments are trying to bail out the owners of big industries with financial assistance, the workers continue to languish with lakhs of them rendered jobless,� they said.
Holding the liberalization policies pursued by the Centre responsible for creating and widening further a deep divide among the rich and the poor, the speakers said that poverty was getting more widespread than ever before and prices of essential commodities, especially foodstuff, were rising manifold.
�According to government data itself, as many as 77 per cent of the people of the country have to make do with less than Rs 20 a day� unemployment is assuming unmanageable proportions and problems of the unorganized workers are mounting,� they said.
Advocating a united movement by the working class to bring about the desired changes, the speakers said that it was heartening to note that all the Central trade unions were resorting to a united stir on the five-point demand of workers-employees, and that the movement should be further bolstered in the coming days.
The meet cited checking of price rise, thwarting the Centre�s move to privatize PSUs, ensuring social security of the unorganized working class, etc., as some of the priority areas to fight for. It also felt that �divisive and communal forces besides the forces of terror� too needed to be tackled effectively.
Other associations that observed May Day include United Workmen Union-Guwahati Refinery, All Assam Govt Driver and Handyman Association,
The day was also observed at different places of Greater Guwahati such as Fancy Bazar, Basistha, Beltola, Paltan Bazar, Betkuchi, Fatasil, Noonmati, Pandu, etc.
As few city buses plied on the roads on account of May Day, commuters had a tough time in reaching their destinations.
May Day in Tribune campus: The Assam Tribune Employees� Union (ATEU) today observed May Day at the Tribune campus. The meeting held on the occasion was presided over by the ATEU vice-president Siba Prasad Deka. Explaining the significance of the day, ATEU general secretary Dugdha Ram Kalita spoke about the struggle to be carried out by the workers to attain their rights. He also dwelt on the current national and international scenario and on the duties and responsibilities of the workers and employees in the current environment.
The May Day flag was unfurled by Ashwini Sarma, a senior employee of the organization. Sarma also spoke on the significance of the day. Employees of the organization, including Ramesh Das, ATEU organizing secretary Deben Mahanta and Devasish Sinha laid stress on the unity of the labour class and the need to develop awareness on the issue.
Anima Das, member of the union executive body, recited a self-composed poem on May Day.
Deka, in his speech, stressed the need for creating awareness among the workers and employees for resisting exploitation by the proprietors.
