Workers are passive spectators: CITU report

By Our Special Correspondent

ALAPPUZHA, NOV. 28. Making a self-critical evaluation of the CITU's activities in different spheres in Kerala, the organisation's State general secretary, Mr. K.N. Ravindranath, has said that as things stand today, the ordinary CITU worker is a passive spectator who merely carries out directions from above.

In his report presented to the eighth State conference of the CITU which got under way here today, Mr. Ravindranath said the ordinary worker is in the grip of inertia and the maximum that the organisation could now lay claim to is "namesake democracy". The CITU, according to him, has failed to see greater internal democracy as an important component of trade union activity.

The report, which surveys the economic situation at the international, national and State levels and activities of the CITU at the State and district-levels as also in different sectors, is silent on the recent controversy over the attempts to impose a code of conduct on the organisation from outside. But it does take a hard look at the weaknesses of the State CITU and feels that a series of measures are necessary to strengthen it. Prominent among these measures are the need to foster active cadres from the working population, hold conferences in tune with the constitution and rules of the CITU and to encourage cadres to speak out their mind at both committee and departmental meetings.

The general secretary emphasised the need to pass on to the new cadres some of the burdens of the leaders who too have heavy a load on hand. The report insisted that revenue and expenditure accounts of unions should be audited from time to time and presented before the committees concerned. It also stressed the need to secure the concurrence of workers at the appropriate forum before entering into wage agreements and to constitute coordination committees for specific sectors at the State level.

An area which has found special emphasis in the report is the need to bring forward more women cadres. The CITU State general secretary called upon lower level leaders to identify sectors and industries employing a large number of women and encourage the growth of women's leadership. An office-bearer at the State-level should be assigned the responsibility of coordinating the activities in this direction.

The report regretted the failure of the Excise Minister to hold discussions with the trade unions on ways to check the spread of spurious liquor after the arrack ban. The trade unions, the report pointed out, had placed such a demand before the Excise Minister when authorised sales of liquor began to be affected by the sale of spurious stuff. The Minister did agree to discuss the issue with the trade unions, but nothing happened. The report points out that the sale of illicit liquor was flourishing in the State under the cover of the arrack ban.

There are, however, no attempts in the report to place the blame for the recent liquor tragedies on the State Government. It merely states that the tragedies were the result of consumption of spurious liquor from unauthorised outlets. Noting that political parties such as the Muslim League and several Christian bishops have come out demanding a total ban on liquor in the wake of the liquor tragedies, the report says that any such move would result in even in mild liquor like toddy being banned. The report also takes note of the attempt by the AITUC-led unions in the liquor industry to criticise the CITU on different issues.

According to the report, the CITU has registered over 20 per cent growth in the State during the last five years. The strength of the organisation, the report says, has gone up from 7,43,174 in 1995 to 9,17,772 in 1999.

Mr. Ravindranath presented the report in the post-lunch session. The discussion on it will take place in the next two days and would conclude with replies from the presidium. The CITU general secretary, Dr. M.K. Pandhe, will be on hand throughout to offer clarifications on issues concerning the CITU national leadership.

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Section  : Southern States
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