State farmers, workers to attend Delhi rally
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 31 2023:
Farmers, labourers and scheme workers from the state will be participating in the mass rally, which is being jointly organised by Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), All India Kishan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Agricultural Workers' Union (AIAWU), in Delhi on April 5.The rally will be raising various demands including increasing the minimum wage of scheme workers to Rs 26,000 a month.
A joint meeting of Manipur Loumi Marup, All Manipur Motor Transport Workers' Federation and All Manipur Midday Meal Workers' Union was held on Thursday, wherein a unanimous decision was taken to participate in the mass rally.
The demands to be raised during the rally will include hiking the minimum wage of scheme workers to Rs 26,000 a month and pension to Rs 10,000 a month; formulation of a law for minimum support price (MSP) of agricultural products based on the Swaminathan Commission report; waiver of loans of middle aged and 60-year old farmers and instead giving them pension; providing 100 working days in a year under MGNREGA, with Rs 600 as daily wage; clearance of pending wages; setting up of a National Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme; non-privatisation of PSUs; dissolution of National Monetisation Pipeline; halting price hike of essential items; exempting essential daily items and food from GST; exempting petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas from CGST; and lowering the price of cooking gases immediately.
Other demands include delivery of PDS benefits to all; inclusion of key 14 items in PDS list; providing food and encouraging low income families; providing quality health care and education to all; effective implementation of Forest Rights Act; rectification of Forest Conservation Act and Rules and for the centre not to provide clearance Without notifying the.
forest dwellers; protection of weak and vulnerable groups and providing them benefits of social justice; taxing extremely high-income earners; increasing corporate tax, wealth tax; and building houses for all those in need.
The meeting on Thursday was attended by Manipur Loumi Marup secretary Sarat Salam, All Manipur Motor Transport Workers' Federation convenor Kshetrimayum Sopen and All Manipur Midday Meal Workers' Union representative Thoi Chanu, among others.