CITU to hold three-day conference in Karnataka’s Hassan

The recent developments over trade tariffs are likely to impact the working class of the country, which is already in distress, said Meenakshi Sundaram, State general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in Hassan on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sundaram said that the U.S. had been dictating India on the latter’s trade relation with other countries. “Now, the U.S. has decided to send its agricultural products to India with no tariffs. This trend will adversely impact Indian agriculture and dairy. The rural employment depending on these sectors will collapse,” he said.

Government statistics showed that no permanent jobs had been created in the last 10 years; on the other hand, the wealth of the corporates had been on the rise, Mr. Sundaram stated. “The assets of five major companies in India account for 20% of the country’s GDP. The workers’ salaries are coming down drastically,” he said.

Further, Mr. Sundaram said that the Karnataka government was making no efforts to implement policies which ensure social justice. Instead, the government was going for contract workers in all departments; the outsourced workers had no right to demand regularisation of their jobs, he added. He also urged the State government to stop the “unscientific development model centred around Bengaluru” and focus on the development of the entire State.

Mr. Sundaram said that the CITU would discuss these issues during its three-day State conference to be held in Hassan from November 13. All India president of CITU Hemalatha is scheduled inaugurate the conference. CITU secretary K.N. Umesh will participate. The Hassan unit of CITU is expecting 450 delegates from all districts of the State to be present at the conference.

CITU Hassan district president Dharmesh, general secretary M.B. Pushpa, vice-president G.P. Satyanarayana, and treasurer Aravind were present.