Jeypore, July 31 UDN}:: The first district conference of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in Koraput district was held in Jeypore. The conference began with the hoisting of the red flag by veteran trade union leader Yudhishthir Raul in front of the Shramik Karmachari Bhawan.
The proceedings of the conference were conducted by a three-member presidium comprising Yudhishthir Raul, Yamuna Bhumia, and Pramod Kumar Tiwari. At the beginning of the programme, the participants observed a one-minute silence in memory of deceased trade union leaders, workers, and activists who had contributed to the labour movement.
Speaking about the objectives and significance of the conference, trade union leader Pramod Kumar Mohanty said that the AITUC was formed on October 31, 1920, and that renowned freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai served as its first president. He further noted that several prominent national leaders, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, and S. A. Dange, had served as presidents of the organisation at different times.
According to the speakers, the AITUC emerged during India’s freedom struggle and has historically fought for the rights and demands of workers belonging to different sections of society. The organisation has played a role in securing various labour laws and social security measures for workers. The speakers alleged that several of these rights and protections are now being weakened under the policies of the present Central Government.
The conference also highlighted the contribution of the AITUC to various labour movements in Koraput district. The organisation has reportedly participated in several struggles and campaigns, including the movement for the revival of the Sewa Paper Mill, the activities of motor workers’ unions, and the organisation of workers in the unorganised sector, including mid-day meal cooks and helpers, construction workers, auto-rickshaw drivers, and daily wage labourers.
For the first time, representatives of these different sections of workers came together at the district-level conference, where a new district leadership structure was formed. The conference also selected representatives who will participate in the upcoming AITUC state conference scheduled to be held at Talcher from October 31 to November 2.
CPI district secretary Ramakrishna Das addressed the gathering and extended his support and greetings to the conference. Other speakers included Ashish Tripathy of the Electricity Federation, Pramod Tiwari and Basant Behera associated with the Sewa Paper Mill, Yamuna Bhumia representing the cooks and helpers’ organisation, Uttam Mallik, motor workers’ representative Bhuvan Kumar, and CPI leader Budra Chandranayak.
During the conference, the participants resolved to intensify the struggle against what they described as the anti-people policies of the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Odisha Government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The speakers also referred to the student movement at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET-UG and UGC-related issues, stating that AITUC had extended support to the movement and helped in turning it into a broader nationwide public movement. They said the movement demonstrated the possibility of building a strong and united force against the policies of the Modi Government and called upon workers to draw inspiration from such collective struggles.
Several resolutions were adopted at the district conference. It was decided that the movement for the revival of the Sewa Paper Mill would be intensified and that greater efforts would be made to address the problems faced by workers across the district.
The conference also resolved to continue campaigns for providing assistance to construction workers, ensuring the implementation of minimum wages in large business establishments and industries, and bringing workers under the ambit of social security schemes. The AITUC said that local-level campaigns and organisational activities would continue to press for these demands.
A 21-member district council was constituted during the conference. Yudhishthir Raul was elected as the President, while Pramod Kumar Mohanty was elected as the General Secretary. Uttam Mallik was elected as the Organising Secretary.
Yamuna Bhumia, Shuku Chinabudi, Basant Behera, and Ramakrishna Das were elected as Vice-Presidents. Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Tirupati Mali, and Bhuvan Kumar were elected as Joint Secretaries, while K. Satyanarayana was elected as Treasurer.
It was also decided that three delegates would represent the Koraput district unit at the upcoming state conference.
The conference concluded with the lowering of the red flag, marking the formal end of the first district conference of the AITUC in Koraput district. The newly elected district committee pledged to strengthen the organisation and continue its activities and movements concerning workers’ rights, minimum wages, social security, employment-related issues, and the revival of the Sewa Paper Mill.
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