Inaugurating the protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner DYFI district president Muneer Katipalla said that a nationwide awareness was the need of the hour to teach an unforgettable lesson to the union government, which according to him grabbing the rights of and labourers and extending red carpet welcome to foreign investors in all the sectors including agriculture.
He said a large number of employees, including those of State and Union governments, public sector enterprises, banks and insurance companies, and teachers, hamalis, autorickshaw drivers and beedi workers are expected to participate in the daylong general strike.
The strike call has been given by 11 Left central trade unions in support of their demands that include steps to check price rise, measures to strengthen the public distribution system, withdrawal of amendments to the APMC legislation, not going ahead with FDI in retail, implementation of a minimum wage of Rs. 10,000 a month and introduction of a scheme to provide monthly pension for all senior citizens.
Mr Katipalla said the issues raised by the central trade unions pertained to not only the working class but also the common people, including farmers, in the country.
In this context, he appealed to the youth and farmers to take part in the strike in big numbers.
He also expressed concern that though profits of private companies had been increasing, the benefits had not reached the workers.
He pointed out that the wage share, which stood around 20 per cent of the total industrial production in 1991 when the industrial profits were around 9 per cent, had now reduced to 9 per cent though the industrial profits had increased to 54 per cent.
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