AGAINST the backdrop of the surging tide of strike struggles sweeping different parts of the country, the National Platform of Mass Organisations held a largely attended All India Convention in New Delhi on the January 20, 2000.

Over 5000 delegates representing workers, kisans, agricultural workers, women, youth and students participated in the convention, held at the special pandal erected on the sprawling lawns adjoining the Constitution Club on Rafi Marg, New Delhi.

The convention was chaired by a presidium comprising E Balanandan (CITU), J Chittaranjan (AITUC), A D Nagpal (HMS), Srilata Swaminathan (AICCTU), Bhim Singh Puri (UTUC) Ramesh Sharma (UTUC-LS) Krishna Das MP (DYFI) K Varadarajan (AIKS), Nagendra Nath Ojha MP (AKMU), Kavita Krishnan (AISA), N P Upadhyaya (GIEAIF), Pillai (AIKS) Harish Sharma (BEFI) and V A N Namboodiri (AITEU Class III (N).

The convention first paid its homage to the victims of the super cyclone that devastated Orissa recently by observing a minute's silence and adopted a condolence resolution. It also called for continuing contributions to the relief operations still needed in large measures.

Taking note of all the ongoing strikes taking place in the country, a resolution was moved by A B Bardhan, Vice President, AITUC, expressing solidarity and support to the support struggle of the UP State Electricity Board Employees, the All India strike by Port & Dock workers, and the strike by government employees in the states of Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir. Secondly, the resolution also pledged full support of the NPMO to the proposed countrywide one-day strike on February 2, 2000 by workers of the central public sector units, at the call of the CPSTU.

Seconding the resolution, E Balanandan, President, CITU, exhorted all constituents of the NPMO to rally the masses in solidarity actions throughout the country. The resolution was carried amidst thunderous applause and militant slogans.

The convention noted the decision of the electricity officers and employees throughout the country to stage a 24 hours strike on January 24, extending support to the UPSEB employees’ strike.

The convention recorded its severe condemnation of the repressive measures resorted to by the central and state governments to deal with these strikes, particularly the use of ESMA, NSA, and the armed forces in a bid to break the strike. That the striking workers have bravely faced them with exemplary courage, was a fitting rebuff to the government and the administration.

DECLARATION & ACTION PROGRAMME

A declaration was circulated at the convention for discussion and adoption, outlining the anti-people, anti-national policies pursued by the BJP-led Government at the centre, and listing out the urgent demands of all sections of the masses. Proposals for an action programme as the next phase of movement and agitation were also placed before the convention. Text of the declaration published separately).

Speakers representing all the constituents of the NPMO endorsed the declaration and the action programme. The list of speakers included: K L Mahendra (AITUC), M K Pandhe (CITU), Swapan Mukherjee (AICCTU), Abani Roy MP (UTUC), Swapan Bikas Roy (UTUC-LS), R A Mital (HMS), Mohan Singh Rajput (TUCC), Hannan Molla MP (AIAWU), Jagmati (AIDWA), Amarjeet Kaur (NFIW), Atul Kumar Anjan (AIKS), V Tyagi (HMS), S C Mishra (AIRF), Subod Sharma (AIMS), Shyamal (AIDSO), Samik Lahiri (SFI), Satyaban (AIKKMS), Kumudini Pati (AIPWA), Lal Bahadur Singh (RYA), Sukomal Sen (AISGEF), Tarakesh Chakraborty (AIBEA), S R Saini (AIIEA), Srinivas (AISF), R L Bhattacharya (NFPE), S K Vyas (CG Emp Confd), Ramakant Pandey (Fertiliser Fed).

The convention heralded the joint countrywide mass movement by all the mass organisations aimed at reversing the present economic policies and defeating the communal designs of the government.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAMME

• March to Parliament in New Delhi on March 9, 2000, with a targetted mobilisation of more than a million people.
• A countrywide general strike to be staged on a date to be announced at the March 9 rally.

A group of young activists from the USA, belonging to Direct Action Network, attended the convention to pledge their support to the Indian movement against neo-liberal globalisation. They were: (Ms) Liani Reinbold, Harley Shuford and David Taylor. They were invited to the dais and introduced to the delegates, who greeted them with cheers.

The convention closed with a street drama Nukkad performed by the Jana Natya Manch exposing imperialisms designs and the saffron brigade’s servitude to them.

All India Convention of

NATIONAL PLATFORM OF MASS ORGANISATIONS

20th January, 2000

Constitution Club Lawn, New Delhi

DECLARATION

The National Platform of Mass Organisations (NPMO) comprising the seven central trade unions, industrial and employees federations and organisations of peasants, agricultural workers, youth, students, women and other professionals of various affiliations in its national convention held on 20th January, 2000 at New Delhi expresses serious concern at the fast deteriorating situation since the BJP led Govt. has come into power.

The Govt. is pursuing a retrograde economic policy inspite of the protest expressed by the people through a countrywide general strike on 11th December 1998.

The inflation rate is declining, yet the same is not reflected in the prices of consumer goods. Inspite of the estimated GDP of 6.5 per cent the people below poverty line have increased to 43 per cent in 1998 compared to 38 per cent in 1997 even according to the NSS. Whatever growth has been there is jobless growth. On the contrary large numbers have lost employment due to closures and voluntary retirement schemes.

Due to liberalisation and reduction in tariffs, coal is imported, while coal from our companies remains unsold. SAIL, a profit making concern is suffering losses due to dumping by some countries. The foreign direct investment comes either in consumer goods or for takeovers through mergers. The airports are being privatised and next the ports will be privatised. Vital sectors like Power and Telecom are also being privatised, thus handing over infrastructure to big business.

Thus globalisation and neo-liberalisation have increased poverty and unemployment in all developing countries including India. The model dictated by IMF and World Bank is only in the interests of MNCs. In an attempt to appease the developed economies the Govt. has post haste opened up the insurance business, which has no technological requirement, for the private sector and foreign direct investment. There is a proposal to reduce the Govts share in Banks to less than 50 per cent. The non-performing assets of banks have reached an astounding figure of over 50,000 crores and the big defaulters, the big business houses responsibile for the same, are demanding closures of loss making banks and disinvestment of the profit making ones.

Public sector industries are to be brought under joint sector or privatised by disinvestment. The Govt. has adopted the Patent Bill, which will adversely affect our Chemical and Pharmaceutical industry and agriculture. It will endanger food security of the country.

Big business and MNCs are being allowed entry even into the small scale and tiny scale industries.

The big business wants to survive and increase its profits by passing on the burdens on the working class. They want policy of hire and fire and legalisation of contract labour. The 2nd National Commission on labour has been asked to recommend amendments to labour laws to suit the policy of liberalisation.

For the first time developing countries wanted review of the decisions taken by WTO and opposed linkage of trade with social standards and environment. The developed countries have included the fast developing countries into the group of 24. There is need for vigilance to guard against a possible compromise and surrender by India.

The peasantry is already suffering because it is more and more getting under the control of MNCs with the genetic terminated seeds, import of fertilisers and the pesticides which are controlled by the multinationals. The peasants are groaning under indebtedness while the rural elites are not even taxed.

Education is being commercialised and also communalised. History is being re-written and text books are also being prepared with the communal ideology.

Sexual harassment of women is on the increase and so also the attack on dalits and tribals.

Increasing unemployment is the biggest problem that our youth are facing. The Govt., both central and states have stopped filling up of vacancies.

Going back on the agreement between the Central Government Employees' Organisation and the earlier U F Govt., the present NDA Govt. have already issued notification to abolish the existing vacant posts and to impose 10 per cent further cut in staff strength in all departments and banned recruitment in Govt. services, and also stayed all promotions for an unspecified period of time.

This situation is being utilised by the communal and fascist forces to divide the working class and the democratic movement with a view to secure the interests of landlords, bigbusiness and the multinationals.

The National Platform expresses serious concern over the Govt’s move to review the Constitution with a view to formation of Presidential form of Government and fixation of 5 years term for the Lok Sabha. Its move is also to undermine the secular foundation of the Constitution. The NPMO condemns such anti-democratic and anti-secular moves.

The NPMO further condemns the BJP Govt. for capitulating to the US imperialists and expressing its desire to serve as its junior partner in the globalised economy.

By the latest agreement with USA, it has further exempted import duties on several agricultural and consumar items to serve its interests. This will further affect the Indian peasantry and the small scale industries.

People in various fields are conducting struggles. The port & dock workers, the coal miners, the public sector workers and the officers in the public sector, the students, the youth and women are agitating on their demands.

In the above circumstances the Convention of NPMO has decided to step up countrywide action plans and long drawn struggles of various sections against the retrograde anti national and anti people policies of the Govt.

The Convention, therefore, calls upon all the mass organisations to organise countrywide campaign and agitation on the following demands:-

DEMANDS

1) Reformulate the Economic Policies to benefit the people and the country.

2) Halt reckless entry of Multinational Companies in Indian Economy and their unfettered game of take-over and acquisition.

3) Stop privatisation, disinvestment, corporatisation and downsizing of central and state public sector units and Govt. departmental work. Rescind the steps already taken in this direction.

4) Reopen closed industrial units and revive the sick ones by providing adequate and immediate financial inputs and ensure their proper functioning with workers participation in management.

5) Protect small scale and traditional Indian industries from the onslaught of the big business and grant financial, fiscal and structural support for them.

6) Check price-rise in real sense, strengthen public distribution system, supply adequate quantity and quality of essential commodities at subsidised prices to economically weaker sections.

7) Re-introduce Essential Commodities Act and take action against hoarders and black marketeers.

8) Take appropriate legislative and administrative steps to bring landlords, both feudal and capitalist, into the tax net. Increase direct taxation on monopolies, MNCs and Corporates, and reduce indirect taxation to the benefit of mass consumers.

9) Initiate strong action for recovering unpaid loans from the nationalized banks. Also take concrete action for recovering/confiscating huge black money running into several thousand crores.

10) Take speedy measures to implement thoroughgoing land reforms, plug loopholes in land ceiling legislations, distribute ceiling-surplus and benami lands to the landless and protect the interest of the share-croppers.

11) Step up public investment for agri-infrastructure development, research and irrigation; Ensure availability of adequate credit to agriculture; write off all debts of agricultural labour and poor peasants, ensure marketing facilities, remunerative prices and comprehensive crop insurance for poor peasants, and adequate subsidies for agrarian inputs. Curb liberal import of agricultural products and consumer items to protect the Indian agriculture and small scale industries.

12) Introduce comprehensive Central legislation for agricultural labour.

13) Introduce Right to work as a fundamental right under the Constitution. Ensure payment of unemployment allowance. Increase funds for rural development schemes, employment/guarantee schemes and food for work programme and provide for strict monitoring to ensure the benefits to reach the poor.

14) Withdraw ban on recruitment and downsizing Govt. staff strength and fill up all vacant posts in the Govt.deptts/PSUs and other places.

15) Make Education a fundamental right in the Constitution and ensure free and compulsory education to all. Stop Commercialisation and Communalisation of education. Step up budgetary allocation for education to 10%. Ensure demcoratic rights of the academic community to elect respective unions and to represent in the governing bodies of all educational institutions. Pass the 83rd Amendment Bill.

16) Adopt 33% Women’s Reservation bill as it is, without further delay; take concrete measures to prevent atrocities against women and take stringent action against perpetrator of crimes and sexual harassment at workplaces. ensure equal property right to women and guarantee pattas jointly in the name of husband and wife and ensure implementation of equal wage for women workers and also all the protective legislations.

17) Take speedy measures for abolition of child labour in all forms.

18) Guarantee the rights of dalits and tribals; take stringent action against perpetrators of atrocities against them. Fill up the backlong of SC/ST quotas in employment.

19) Modify the existing terms of reference of the Second National Commission for Labour and reconstitute the Commission in consultation with all Central Trade Unions and organisations of peasants and agricultural labour.

20) Guarantee minimum wages above poverty line with automatic linkage to price index and regular periodical revision and progressively increase it to need based level. Suitably amend the Minimum Wages Act and place it in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

21) Curb all media and cultural programmes which violate secular values, dignity of women and glorify crime and violence. Prevent entry of MNCs in the media sector.

22) Halt nuclear weaponisation, stop arms race, refrain from signing CTBT and NPT.

23) Take stringent action against all involved in corruption deals, particularly those holding public office.

ACTION PROGRAMME

The Convention congratulates the port & dock workers for launching countrywide indefinite strike from January 18, and extends full support to the decision of public sector workers to go on countrywide strike on February 2. It also congratulates the strike of U P electricity employees, and the state employees of Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir and condemns the repression let loose on them. The Convention unanimously adopted the following programmes of movement and agitation.

* Holding of state/district level Conventions to be completed by February, 2000.

* Massive rally of mass organizations before parliament on 9th March, 2000.

* Countrywide General strike during second phase of the next budget session, preceded by nationwide satyagraha, padayatra, dharnas by various mass organisations (date of strike to be notified later on).