Violence and Its Impact on
the Working class
May 8, 2006
Communal violence and
curfew means that people are unable to go for daily wage employment;
wage labourers and self-employed workers are on the brink of
starvation. – Jyoti Karmachari Mandal
[JKM] and Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti
[PSS]
· There are
people who even under normal circumstances make ends meet with
great difficulty. Amongst them 70% are on the verge of starvation.
· In the near future
how many days will they be able to get employment? That remains
uncertain even today. But who cares? – JKM & PSS
There
is no food in the houses
of daily wagers. In such a situation those elements creating
communal tension force the common person to stay indoors without
employment. The violence in Vadodara is giving rise to another
equally grim situation.
No new employment is being generated. In the past 5 years, 10
lakh people have lost their employment. In the name of so-called
development and beautification of the city the demolition drive has
not only removed the lari or small kuhmchas of ordinary people but
also their houses in a brutal manner. As an answer to creating new
employment, the government and public and private sector are talking
about Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS) which in the real sense is
the Compulsory Retirement Schemes (CRS).
Due to the new economic policies of the government, the
situation of the common person is worsening day by day. In Vadodara
city, earlier there used to be 3-5 casual labour markets but now
these have now increased to 20. These labour markets are not very
different from the slave markets of the 14th century. The
only difference is that now people exercise their so-called “own
free will” to sell their labour.
Today, in order to fill their stomachs, daily wage workers
have to work for more than 10-16 hours. Hundreds of people have to
stand in labour markets for hours each day in Vadodara to get
employed. Earlier it was believed that these people are migrants
from Panchmahal or Chotta Udepur, but now in such markets one will
find new categories of people – those who earlier had secure jobs,
people who worked in industries that have now closed down, or those
who have been retrenched in the name of “Voluntary Retirement
Scheme”. These sections are now forced to join the ranks of daily
wage labourers. Some of these workers are such that they would
get Rs. 2,500 - 3,000/- per month as permanent employment. Now, in
the labour market they get Rs.35 - 65/- as daily wages. Since the
number in this casual labour market is increasing, the wages have
shown a downward trend.
The number of rickshaws that are run on rents has also
increased. Of those who earn a living in such a manner 50% are
workers of closed mills of Gujarat. Amongst the new rickshaw
drivers, there are those who are unable to get other jobs, but also
those who have lost their regular jobs or have been retrenched in
the name of voluntary retirement. Those who can afford to rent out
their rickshaws have bought cars themselves, so that those who drive
the rickshaws and those who sit in rickshaws are from about the same
economic strata – this has made the economic condition of rickshaw
drivers more precarious. Around 70% of rickshaws are not able to
go on road since the last 6 days.
These days one can only get a job for few months. These
kinds of jobs are also now decreasing. In miniscule number jobs as
security guards are available. For this a worker gets Rs.1, 000 -
1,500/- for a 12 hour shift. Labour laws are given a complete go by
with such jobs. Given this situation, the recent communal violence
has made the condition of the common person even more precarious.
There are people who even under normal circumstances make
ends meet with great difficulty and among them 70% are on the verge
of starvation. These people rely on the informal/unorganised sector
for their employment. This section of the population has been
imprisoned in their houses for the last 6 days and are unable to go
out to seek employment. These people are not those who work in
schools, banks or in the organised sector, where if people do not
show up at work due to curfew, they may still able to get their
salaries or wages. These are people who, if they do not go to work
on a particular day, are unable to have a meal in the evening. On
the one hand, these people have been pushed on the brink of
starvation and on the other hand, they are being terrorised by the
fear of communal attacks. Not only have the nights become like the
day for them, it is the day which has become as dark as the night.
They belong to all communities.
Jyoti Karmachari Mandal and Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti appeal
to all those who have become victims of this extremely serious
situation to raise their voices against communal violence. There are
handful of people, who want to instigate violence by conducting
meetings and spreading rumours and thus poisoning relations between
two communities. They use insecurity, fear and joblessness of
poor to achieve their own political motives. Unfortunately,
impoverished workers from both the communities become the fuel to
keep the fire of communal violence alive.
Jyoti Karmachari Mandal and Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti appeal
to people to boycott such people and firmly resist them. The
prevailing circumstances have made the condition of the common
person worse and the real issues facing them have been sidelined.
For this everyone needs to unite and prepare themselves for a long
battle against communal forces and exploitation.
Amrish Brahmbhatt Kantibhai M istry Rohit
Prajapati Anand Mazgaonkar
Jyoti Karmachari Mandal
Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti