Imphal, May 02: With call for ensuring the rights of the labourers and daily wage earners and framing a policy for them, May Day was observed as in other part parts of the globe by various social organisations all over the State yesterday.

To mark the occasion, All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers' Welfare Association took out a rickshaw rally covering all the important places of Imphal East and Imphal West districts raising the demands for allowing the rickshaw drivers /pullers to work in peace, to stop harassing them and looking at them with suspicion and framing of a policy for the labourers and daily wage earners to ensure their rights.

Flagging off from the Martyrs' memorial complex at Kekrupat by UCM president K Lanngamba, the rally passed though Chingmeirong, Thangmeiband, RIMS Road, Naoremthong, Tera Bazar, Tera Sayang, Kwakeithel, Khagempalli, Singjamei Bazar, Khongman, Kongba, Wangkhei, Palace Gate and concluded at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Sanglen at Palace Compound where a public meeting was held.

The meeting proceeded with AITUC Manipur unit president Dr M Nara and All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers' and Pullers Welfare Association president Md Kyamuddin taking the dais as chief guest and functional president respectively.

The meeting strongly condemned the recent incident of fitting a bomb by unidentified persons in a rickshaw and appealed to all concerned to ensure such incident do nor recur.

Addressing the meeting, secretary of All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers' Welfare Association AK Kom said failure of the State Govt to come up with a policy of the labourers and daily wage earners till date is very unfortunate.

Numerous memorandum have been submitted to the Govt in the past, but to no avail, he lamented.

He further noted that the recent order to restrict entry of rickshaws inside the Khwairamband market has caused lot of inconvenien ces to the rickshaw drivers as well as to market goers.

Moreover, after the recent dsicovery of the bomb fitted on a rickshaw, the police have been looking at the rickshaw drivers who are trying to eke out their living and daily income with suspicion, he ruled, adding that this is regrettable.

He also appealed to the Government for lifting the restriction on entry of rickshaws in the market area.

The Editors' Forum, Manipur observed the May Day along with paying homage to the labourers during a function at the Paona Bazar office of the Miyamgee daily yesterday.

Attended by editors of various newspapers and members of the Forum, the function observed one minute silence as mark of respect to the departed souls of the labourers.

In continuation of the function, the gathering discussed various issues related to the welfare of the mediapersons in Manipur and pledged to work towards ensuring better working condition for them.

The May Day observance was also held under the aegis of All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur unit at GM Hall here to raise the demand for promotion of small scale industries and public sectors, framing of a legislation for the daily wage earners, implementing the scheme of guaranteeing 100 days job to the unemployed, amendment of the Acts related to agricultural practice, to improve the Public distribution System of the Govt, to ensure available of essential commodities to the people, extending financial assistance to vendors in market and hawkers and introduction of Pension Scheme for them, etc.

The observance function at GM Hall was attended by Minister of Labour and Employment Ph Parijat as chief guest and AITUC Manipur unit president as functional president.

Chairman of CPI Manipur Control Commission Moirangthem Ibohal, secretary of CPI Manipur Langol Iboyaima, secretary of CPI (M) Manipur Sarat Salam, Chairman of MANIDCO MLA N Mangi , MLAs Borajao, U Deben and Elangbam Tomba were also present at the occasion as guests of honour.

Giving the key note address of the 122th May Day observance, general secretary of AITUC Manipur L Sotinkumar pointed out that starting from 1861 workers have been launching various movements in pursuance of their demand for better working condition along with abolishing paying of a certain amount of wage without any limit any working duration and instead fix 8 hours a day as the working period .

However, starting from 1890, May 1 every year is being observed as the day of emancipation for the workers all over the world.

INTUC, Manipur Pradesh also observed the Day along with organising a function at Congress Bhavan with Chief Minister O Ibobi and MPCC president Gaikhangam as chief guest and functional president respectively.

Centre for Indian Trade Unions, Manipur State Committee, AMSEC, Janata Dal (S), Manipur and Joint Action of AMTUC and AMGEO All Manipur Governmrnt Employees' Organisation were also among other organisations which observed the May Day yesterday.

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