Shimla– The CITU Shimla District Committee recently convened a meeting led by District President Kuldeep Dogra. Key attendees included State President Vijender Mehra, Ajay Dulta, R.K. Mishra, and other prominent activists.
During this gathering, members raised critical issues affecting workers and announced plans to address these matters by engaging with state ministers and organizing protests against policies they believe are detrimental to workers’ interests.
The Shimla meeting focused on advocating for mini and anganwadi workers as well as street vendors, with a pledge to meet with departmental ministers and the labor minister on their behalf.
CITU leaders declared that the district committee would hold protests on November 26 at various district and block headquarters across Shimla, targeting central government policies perceived as unfavorable to workers, farmers, and the broader public.
CITU officials outlined several key demands, among them the regularization of anganwadi and ASHA workers. Leaders urged the government to upgrade mini anganwadi centers rather than close them, ensure fair wages, and provide government employee status and gratuity benefits to these workers.
Another priority was raising the minimum wage to ₹26,000 per month, securing job stability for contract workers, and ensuring equal pay for equal work. CITU also pushed for the rollback of the recently implemented labor codes and fixed-term employment policies, which they argue compromise job security and reduce worker benefits.
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In addition, CITU called for the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees of government boards and corporations, with a proposed minimum pension increase to ₹9,000 per month. The committee highlighted the need to extend employment opportunities through NREGA, advocating for a daily wage of ₹600 and guaranteeing 200 workdays, particularly in urban areas where jobs are limited.
The meeting also included a discussion on opposition to privatization policies, specifically the National Monetization Pipeline and initiatives like Agnipath, which CITU leaders view as threats to both public assets and worker rights.
Throughout the meeting, CITU representatives voiced strong criticism of the central government’s policies, attributing them to rising inflation, joblessness, and increased economic inequality.
Members expressed concern over the rising prices of essential commodities, such as petrol, diesel, and cooking gas, which they say have added financial strain on the public. Issues with the public distribution system were also noted, with claims that its weakening has left many unable to meet basic needs.
State President Vijender Mehra emphasized that CITU will organize campaigns across Himachal Pradesh to inform the public about the impact of these policies.
He stated, “The government’s neoliberal policies have fueled unemployment and poverty. Rising prices and weakened public welfare have broken the back of the common people.”
CITU also demanded effective implementation of laws such as the Street Vendors Act and amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act to protect workers’ interests.
Leaders announced that they plan to rally workers, farmers, and the general public to oppose these policies, even appealing to voters to consider these issues in upcoming elections.
As the November protests approach, CITU’s district committee aims to intensify advocacy efforts, seeking to build momentum around these demands and reinforce their commitment to supporting workers across sectors.
