Farmers Movement Archive

Trade bodies stage demonstration from homes

Ranchi: In a unique way of protest during the lockdown, members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and several other Left-backed trade outfits on Tuesday staged demonstrations from terraces and balconies of their house, holding banners and placards to press for various demands. Their demands include stopping any attempt to increase working hours, transfer of Rs 7,500 each to accounts of labourers, arrangement of food and shelter for migrants and end to retrenchment of workers. During their 10-minute demonstrations starting from 10.30am, the protesters displayed slogans like ‘‘bhashan nahi ration chahiye (we do not need speeches but food)”, “arthik sahyata do (provide monetary relief)” and “nagad do (give aid in cash)”. CITU general secretary Prakash Viplav said the protests were held at hundreds of residential colonies across the state and it was particularly successful in the coal belts. He said, “Such demonstrations were held at 26 places in five districts of the coal belt, including Bokaro, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Ranchi and Chatra. We are sending the photos related to the demonstrations to the Prime Minister’s Office portal.” Viplav demanded that frontline warriors, including hygiene staff and surveyors, should be provided insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh on the lines of doctors. Apart from CITU, All India Trade Union Congress, Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha (ABKS), Akhil Bhartiya Janwadi Samiti, Student’s Federation of India, Janwadi Naujawan Sabha and Akhil Bhartiya Khet Mazdoor Sangh had given pan India call for the demonstrations. ABKS leader Sufal Mahto said members of his organsiation held similar demonstrations in rural areas, including at Rahe, Sonahatu and Silli in Ranchi district. The protesters also asked for smooth operations of agriculture activities, providing financial aid to farmers, immediate payments of pending wages under MNREGA and increasing its workdays to 200.

The Times of India

2020-04-22

Ranchi