The Modi Government’s “Achievement”

THE Modi government is celebrating four years in office with great fanfare. The fact that these four years have unleashed an unparallelled process of social and political retrogression in the country is well-known and need not detain us here. Our purpose here is to examine what these years have meant for the living standards of the bulk of the Indian people.

TAMIL NADU: Sterlite and the Peoples’ Movement Thoothukudi – The Ground Zero

FINALLY it happened.

The Sterlite Copper Smelter factory was shutdown, after claiming 13 lives in a pre-planned cold blooded murder by the police in Thoothukudi, the southern port city of the country.

The shutdown may be a drama of the AIADMK government, as the issue is lying with the High court. The credibility of the same government is questionable as it has close contacts with the BJP led Modi government, which is a very big financial beneficiary of the Vedanta group, the mother concern of the Sterlite Copper Ltd, Thoothukudi.

PUNJAB: Anganwadi Workers Momentous March

ANGANWADI workers and helpers from Punjab, who suffer with paltry wages and poor social security like other scheme workers across the country, are on struggle path.

Nearly 5,000 anganwadi workers and helpers under the banner of Anganwadi Mulazam Union, which is affiliated to the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), held a three-day long protest march which began from the historical city of Fatehgarh Sahib on May 28 and culminated in Chandigarh on May 30.

Why is the Private Hospital Sector so Difficult to Regulate?

NEWS about rampant overcharging of patients and unethical practices in the private medical sector in the National Capital Region (NCR) hit the headlines last year after several such incidents were reported from some of the most ‘prestigious’ corporate hospitals in the NCR. Since then the overall consensus surrounding debates on the issue is that the private medical sector needs to be regulated much more effectively. The catch however lies in determining how effective regulation can be ensured.

CLINICAL ESTABLISHMENTS ACT OF 2010

All India Bank Strike Held Successfully on May 30

THE Bank Employees Federation of India, in a statement issued on May 30, has congratulated the million strong bankmen (workmen and officers) for their splendid role in making the all India bank strike on May 30 a huge success.

Kisan Sabha to Intensify Struggle in Assam

A LARGE public meeting and rally in Sarbhog in Assam on May 12 marked the commencement of an extended state council meeting of the Assam State Kisan Sabha. The meeting, attended by several thousand peasants as well as other sections of the people, called for intensifying struggles against anti-people and anti-peasant policies of the BJP governments at the centre and in the state.

Kerala LDF Govt Cuts Fuel Prices

WITH the prices of petrol and diesel skyrocketing and reaching the highest ever levels, the Kerala government has decided to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel by Rupee 1 in the state from June 1. With this, Kerala becomes the first state to announce a cut in fuel prices.

Into the Political Movement

THE possibilities for a secure career had worsened drastically. Friedrich Wilhelm IV had come to the throne in Prussia in 1840. The Prussian bourgeoisie reiterated its demands, particularly the one for a decisive share of political power, especially in the administration of the State in law-making. When the King rejected these demands, the economically leading section of the industrialists—the bankers and the merchants, with the Rhinelanders in the forefront—went over to the liberal opposition and put itself at the head of the popular movement.

HARYANA: Municipal Workers Struggle Emerges Victorious

THE Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh (NKS) an affiliate of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh (SKS) Haryana , organized a successful 16-day strike of the urban local bodies workers of the state. The main demands that were achieved include ending the contract system of employment and putting them on the rolls of the municipalities. A committee was also formed to frame a policy to regularise these workers. Another major demand that was settled is a minimum wage of Rs13,500 and incorporating 1,360 firemen and drivers of the fire department and drivers in their respective departments.

Four Years of Modi Govt’s Labour Reforms

THE BJP-led Narendra Modi government, during the four years of its tenure, introduced several pro-corporate “labour reforms”. Designed in neoliberal framework, some of these are for immediate effect and some are to roll over beyond the 2019 Lok Sabha election as part of the BJP’s ‘New India 2022’ campaign.

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