Loss of 70 lakhs jobs in first few months of demonetization: JS Majumdar

From the Declaration of 28 September 2018 

National Convention of Workers

Joblosses due to Demonetisation 

The estimates by independent surveys and those sponsored by employers’ organizations revealed loss of 70 lakh jobs with closure of 2.34 lakh small factory units in the first few months of demonetization. The livelihood-loss of another 6 crore people in informal economy and about 17 lakh job losses in organized sector speaks about the grim ground reality. Faced with such pathetic records the government is busy in concoction of statistics with twists to make fraudulent claims on employment generation. Regular Employment Survey which was conducted by Labour Ministry has been stayed.

Aggressive Privatisation of Public Sector

The government is aggressively going ahead with privatization of all strategic PSUs. Defence sector privatization is designed to destroy manufacturing capability and research initiatives developed during last over last six and half decades. Complete privatization of the Railways step by step is going on. Legislative measures to pave the way of privatization of major ports are also in the advanced stage. CPSUs even in core and strategic sectors like Energy, Petroleum, Telecom, Metal, Mining, Machine Building, Electronic and Digital, Road, Air and Water Transport, Port & Dock and more are under the privatization onslaught of the Government.

Outsourcing of Defence Production

Most dubious is outsourcing of more than 50% products including weapons and critical equipments, so long being produced by the Ordinance establishments. More than 250 items manufactured by Ordnance factories have been notified as non-core. Orders are placed to private players for supply of some of these items. Government is determined to close down 5 Ordnance factories manufacturing items used by our soldiers and officers and it would render thousands of workers jobless. Defence PSUs and shipyards are also being subjected to discrimination in respect of work orders while private corporates are being patronized by the Government in defence procurement deals.

Railways Privatisation

Operating private trains in the existing tracks built by Railways is being permitted. Moreover, free access to railway yards, sheds and workshops for maintenance of private coaches, wagons and engines etc are being offered to private operators. Already 23 railway stations in all metro cities have been shortlisted for privatisation. More than 600 railway stations along with land around them have been identified for development through private players in the name of “redevelopment of railway stations and land around them”. It was part of budget speech of the finance minister. Workers not only in Railways but in all Government and Public Sector Undertakings shall be worst victims of privatization in terms of job security, democratic trade union rights and protection of achievements in the areas of pay, perks, social security etc. Like Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC), a Railway Development Authority (RDA) has been created. Given the sky-rocketing increase in electricity tariff by CERC, under RDA railway fare and goods freight is poised to be hiked hurting the common people and benefiting the private profiteers.

Attack on Road Transport

Attempts are being made by many State governments to dismantle public sector road transport by issuing route permits to private parties. The Central government intends to get the new Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2017 hastily passed in the parliament which will allow wholesale privatisation of road transport on the one hand and impose draconian measures on the road transport workers including those in private sector. The convention notes the widely participated countrywide strike by road transport workers on 7 August 2018 against the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill.

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GST is directly affecting the people: JS Majumdar

GST: The Core Issues all Should Know

GST is Indirect Tax System on goods and services directly affecting the people. 

1. It was initiated by Manmohan Singh government and implemented by Modi government on and from 1 July, 2017.
   
2. In one stroke, under GST regime, all goods and services have been brought under tax net (some may be zero at present - yet under tax net); ending the earlier system of item by item tax, debated and approved by the Parliament and Legislative Assemblies.
   
3. There is no more open parliamentary and public debate on indirect tax burden on the people. It has been taken over by GST Council and being decided in close door discussion in corporate style under Central government.
   
4. GST is based on one India market, States’ rights and federalism so far existing have ended.
   
   
5. Administration of GST has been outsourced by the Central and State governments to a private entity known as GST Network (GSTN), with Central and State governments together being minority share holders (49%); majority shares (51%) being controlled by 5 private firms, some of those having even 75% foreign holdings, thus, all data are available to them without security clearance. GSTN is outside the ambit of CAG audit.
   
   
6. GST is equally shared, by the Central government as CGST and States as SGST.
   
   
7. GST mainly consists of Central government’s Central Excise Duty (CED) and Service Tax; and of States’ Sales Tax. CED was origin-based while and States’ Sales Tax was destination-based. There is huge difference on cost/price at origin and consumer’s price in destination. GST is the destination-based taxation. Therefore, there is huge difference between Central government’s earlier CED at origin and CGST being collected now at destination.
   
   
8. There is spiraling increase of GST with spiraling increase in retail prices. Central government must be happy for this double windfall gain - due to transition from CED to CGST – (i) from cost-based to retail-based and (ii) increase in CGST with every increase retail prices – sharing the loot at people’s cost.
   
   
9. GST has been imposed on all public services such as rail, road, water transport, postal communication and on other essential services.
   
   
10. As GST is consumption-based, in one-India market under the GST structure only consumption states get the SGST and manufacturing states suffer losses. Though, compensation package has been designed for a limited period, it is a discouragement to manufacturing and, thereby, employment. It is free one-India market for goods and services irrespective of manufacturing/origin, including imports.
    
    
11. With GST, there is big attack on the social security of the workers. In one stroke, by the Finance Act of 2016 cess collection for several social welfare legislations, accrued by serious struggle by the working class, have been abolished from Mica, Iron Ore, Manganese Ore, Chrome Ore, Limestone, Dolomite Mines; and Salt, Merchant Shipping, Textiles, Tobacco industries and subsequently cine-workers. Cess for construction workers has been subsumed in GST in 2017. These have seriously affected the welfare schemes under respective legislations.
    
    
12. GST has caused huge increase in medicine prices which requires separate note for discussion.

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Vijaykant Thakur was a veteran mass leader: CPIM

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses is profound grief at the death of a former member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M) and a veteran of the communist movement in Bihar, Comrade Vijaykant Thakur, who died this morning. He was 86 years old.

A leader of many mass movements in Bihar, Vijaykant Thakur was a student activist in 1955-56, who later on joined the undivided Communist Party. He joined the CPI(M) in 1975. He served as the Secretary of the Dharbhanga district committee of the Party for a long period. He was the Secretary of the Bihar State Committee of the Party from 2005 to 2015. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Party at its 20th Congress and retired at the last Congress due to old age.

A militant leader, he led various struggles of the poor and landless peasants in Dharbhanga, Purnea and other districts of Bihar. The successful struggles that he led for the eviction of land illegally occupied by landlords and the land mafia and for redistribution among the poor and the landless earned him immense popularity among these sections. He was General Secretary of the Bihar unit of the All India Kisan Sabha for a long time and also a member of the All India Kisan Council.

He was elected as the President of the Kansi Gram Panchayat for a record forty years uninterruptedly. His spartan life style attracted many.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife and children and the entire membership of the Party in Bihar.

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হিন্দু কোড বিল ও শ্যামাপ্রসাদ মুখোপাধ্যায়

ইতিহাসের পুরোনো পাতা ঘেঁটে যা পাওয়া যাচ্ছে; তিন তালাকের বিরুদ্ধে যারা আগুন ছড়িয়েছেন, তাদের প্রাতস্মরনীয় পূর্বসূরির কীর্তিগাথা ...

মণিকুন্তলা সেনের লেখা থেকে:---

"এরপরে একটা বড় আন্দোলনে যোগ দিয়ে আমরা গোটা সমাজেরই এক নতুন চেহারার মুখোমুখি হলাম। হিন্দু কোড বিলের আগে 'রাও বিল' নামে একটা বিল পাশ হয়েছিল পার্লামেন্টে। নারীর অধিকারের ব্যাপারে সে বিল ছিল অসম্পূর্ণ। তাই পার্লামেন্টে নতুন করে এল হিন্দু কোড বিল। এই বিলের নিরিখে দেখার সুযোগ পেলাম নামি ও দামি লোকেরাও সমাজ চেতনায় কত সংকীর্ণমনা এবং কত রক্ষণশীল।

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सीताराम येचुरी पर फुलगेंदवा की बारिश: बादल सरोज

तेलंगाना की लोकसंस्कृति का गौरव है फूलों का रंगारंग उत्सव बाथुकम्मा । इसमें अलग अलग इलाकों के फूलों के साथ खुशियां मनाई जाती हैं । यह उत्सव धरती, पानी और मनुष्य के बीच अंतरंग रिश्तों का उत्सव है, सेलीब्रेशन है । इस दिन फूलों के साथ फूलों और प्रकृति का जश्न मनाया जाता है । 

मशहूर क्रांतिकारी शायर और तेलंगाना के मुक्ति संग्राम में बंदूक लेकर लड़ने वाले मखदूम मोहियुद्दीन की बेमिसाल ग़ज़ल है, जिसकी प्रेरणा यकीनन फूलों की इसी बारात से मिली होगी ।

(ग़ज़ल पूरी पढ़ियेगा, ऐसी ग़ज़लें पढ़ने से क्रांति पीछे नही जाएगी - बहुत मुमकिन है कि थोड़ी आगे आ जाये ।)

फिर छिड़ी रात बात फूलों की

रात है या बारात फूलों की ।

फूल के हार, फूल के गजरे

शाम फूलों की रात फूलों की ।

आपका साथ, साथ फूलों का

आपकी बात, बात फूलों की ।

नज़रें मिलती हैं जाम मिलते हैं

मिल रही है हयात फूलों की ।

कौन देता है जान फूलों पर

कौन करता है बात फूलों की ।

वो शराफ़त तो दिल के साथ गई

लुट गई कायनातफूलों की ।

अब किसे है दमाग़े तोहमते इश्क़

कौन सुनता है बात फूलों की ।

मेरे दिल में सरूर-ए-सुबह बहार

तेरी आँखों में रात फूलों की ।

फूल खिलते रहेंगे दुनिया में

रोज़ निकलेगी बात फूलों की ।

ये महकती हुई ग़ज़ल 'मख़दूम'

जैसे सहरा में रात फूलों की ।

यह पोस्ट उन जबरदस्त क्रान्तिधर्मियों को प्यार सहित समर्पित जो सीताराम येचुरी के इस फोटो पर हाय रब्बा करते हुए, मन्नाडे के कमाल के गीत की तर्ज में लगत करेजवा में चोट लिए मार फूले-फूले घूम रहे हैं ।  इस गुजारिश के साथ कि अमां यार, थोड़े तो इंसानों जैसे दिखो !! फूल-पत्ती-उत्सव-कला-लोक से मत डरो । इतने डरावने मत बनो कि फूल तक सहम जायें.

अब तक के सारे इंकलाब प्रकृति और मनुष्य से प्यार करने वाले, उत्सवो से रिश्ता रखने वाले, सचमुच का इश्क़ तक करने वालों ने किए हैं ।

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जमीन दो आवास दो, नही तो गद्दी छोड़ दो: दलित शोषण मुक्ति मंच

डीएसएमएम ने कोडरमा प्रखण्ड घेराव कर प्रदर्शन किया

झुमरीतिलैया - दलित शोषण मुक्ति मंच (डीएसएमएम) ने पूर्व निर्धारित कार्यक्रम के तहत दलितों को जमीन व आवास देने की मांगों को लेकर कोडरमा प्रखण्ड मुख्यालय का घेराव कर प्रदर्शन कर "जमीन दो आवास दो, नही तो गद्दी छोड़ दो" के नारे से दलितों ने अपनी आवाज को बुलंद किया. इससे पूर्व श्रम कल्याण केन्द्र से झंडा बैनर के साथ जुलूस निकला जो झुमरीतिलैया बाजार व ब्लॉक रोड होते हुए प्रखण्ड कार्यालय पहुँचकर घेराव कार्यक्रम मे तब्दील हो गया. जहाँ सरकार के खिलाफ जमकर नारेबाजी की गई.

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बिहार में महादलितों का जमीन लुट ली गयी

बिहार, ३ जुलाई, २०१८: खुटौना प्रखंड के मौगलाहा गांव के 102 महादलित परिवारों को मधुबनी प्रशासन एक जमींदार से मिल कर सङक पर ला दिया। भू माफिया द्वारा जमीन हथियाने का यह एक साजिश है   यह एक निन्दनीय घटना है. सभी परिवारों को 1986 मे ही सरकार द्धारा परचा भी दिया गया और इंदिरा आवास योजना के तहत सभी का घर भी बनवाया गया था। तथा बिजली का कनेक्शन दिया गया था. दलित बसती को बचाने की जिम्मेदारी सरकार की थी. लेकिन इस बीच अचानक एक जमींदार ने अपनी जमीन बता कर कोर्ट मे केस कर दिया प्रशासन की ओर से कोई ध्यान नही दिया। हाईकोर्ट का एकतरफा फैसला के अनुसार प्रशासन जेसीबी मशीन से सभी घरों को तोङ दिया.

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दरभंगा में बिभिन्न मांगों को लेकर माकपा की भूख हड़ताल

दरभंगा: 30 जून 2018: सीपीआईएम के कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा सामूहिक भूख हड़ताल आज पांचवें दिन भी जारी रहा। बहादुरपुर अंचलाधिकारी से संबंधित मांगों को लेकर अनिश्चितकालीन अनशन जारी है। अनशन तब तक जारी रहेगी जब तक मांगों पर सहानुभूति पूर्वक विचार नहीं किया जाता। 

अनशनकारियों के समर्थन में सैकड़ों सीपीएम कार्यकर्ताओं ने आज भी अंचल कार्यालय पर प्रदर्शन किया। वही सभा को संबोधित करते हुए सीपीएम के राज्य सचिव मंडल सदस्य ललन चौधरी ने कहा कि मुख्य सचिव एवं जिलाधिकारी के आदेश को बहादुरपुर अंचलाधिकारी द्वारा अनदेखी कर सामंतों के पक्ष में खड़ा होकर भ्रष्टाचार में संलिप्त है। उन्होंने कहा कि कानून की अनदेखी एवं वरीय पदाधिकारियों के आदेश को नहीं मानने वाले अंचलाधिकारी के खिलाफ जुझारू आंदोलन चलाने की जरूरत है। नीतीश-मोदी सामंतों के पक्ष में है, मजदूर किसान विरोधी भाजपा सरकार को उखाड़ फेंकने की जरूरत है।

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Long March by dispossesed to Delhi: AIKS

ALL INDIA KISAN SABHA (AIKS) SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF A LONG MARCH OF THE DISPOSSESSED TO DELHI

A meeting of the central office bearers of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) held today in New Delhi decided to support the idea of a Long March of the Dispossessed to Delhi to demand a special session of Parliament called entirely to discuss the serious agrarian crisis in the country.


This unprecedented agrarian crisis is reflected in the lakhs of suicides of debt-ridden peasants; the thousands of deaths of children and women due to starvation and malnutrition; the abysmal state of rural education and public health; the massive increase in rural unemployment and landlessness; and the unheard-of rise in economic and social inequality in the country.

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All Left parties agains Khunti gangrape in Jharkhand

A meeting of left parties CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) & SUCI held at CPI(M) state office today strongly condemned the sharply deteriorating law & order in the state following the heinous incident of gang rape of five women in Khunti District.
The miscreants should be immediately arrested and stern legal action should be initiated against them.

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किसानों ने बुलंदशहर जिलाधिकारी कार्यालय का घेराव किया

हजारों किसानों व स्कीम वर्कर्स ने जिलाधिकारी कार्यालय बुलंदशहर का घेराव किया।


जीने का अधिकार बचाओ। अमन बचाओ, देश बचाओ ।

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दुमका में हूल दिवस पर माकपा की रैली

 30 June, 2018: हूल दिवस के अवसर पर दुमका में CPIM की ओर से आयोजित संकल्प सभा एवं रैली| रैली को नेतृत्व प्रदान करते कॉम मो इकबाल और कॉम प्रकाश विप्लव|आज ही के दिन 30 जून 1855 को क्रांतिकारी नेता सिद्धू मुर्मू एवं कान्हू मुर्मू के आह्वान पर राजमहल के भोगनाडीह में 20 हजार संतालों ने ब्रिटिश हुकूमत के अधीन महाजनी प्रथा और सरकार की बंदोबस्ती नीति के खिलाफ विद्रोह किया था। अभी भी झारखण्ड के आदिवासी एवं अन्य वंचित तबकों को जल, जंगल ज़मीन पर अपने अधिकार के लिए लड़ना पड़ रहा है|
झारखण्ड सरकार CNT-SPT एक्ट में संसोधन कर कॉर्पोरेट घरानों के लिए यहाँ के रैयतों की ज़मीन अधिग्रहण का रास्ता साफ़ करने पे अमादा है| सीपीआई(एम्) सरकार के पूंजी-परस्त जनविरोधी नीतियों के खिलाफ हमेशा ही संघर्षरत रहा है, इन नीतियों के खिलाफ लड़ाई और तेज़ करने का संकल्प लिया गया |


A mass meeting, "Sankalp Sabha" and rally held at Dumka which was organised by CPI(M) on the occasion of Hul Diwas. The Jharkhand state secretariat members Com. Md Iqbal and Com. Prakash Viplav lead the rally.
In this day of 1855, at the call of legendary leaders Sidhhu & Kanhu Murmu some 20,000 Santals revolted against the British and the landlords who supported the British. Still today the Tribals and other oppressed sections are forced to fight for their rights on land, forests & other resources in the state.
The state government by pro-corporate amendments in CNT-SPT Act is paving the way for forced land acquisition to suit corporate interests.  CPI(M) has always been in the fore-front of struggles against anti-people pro-corporate policies and the party resolved to intensify such struggles in the future.

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