Workers organized programs of mahapadav (large protests) across the country on 9th August 2023, at the initiative of the United Forum of Trade Unions. They organized several processions, dharnas, meetings and protests in different state capitals and district-tehsil headquarters against the anti-labour, anti-farmer, anti-people policies of the central government and in support of their demands. It is estimated that such mahapadavs were organized at more than 700 places across the country.
Towards organizing the mahapadav, trade union activists and a large number of workers distributed leaflets and launched vigorous campaigns in industrial areas and workers’ residences a month before the event.
In the country’s capital Delhi, the mahapadav was organized at Jantar Mantar, near the Parliament.
Hundreds of workers from different areas participated in this protest. Women workers participated in the program with enthusiasm. Workers held banners and placards with slogans written on them – “Intensify the struggle against inflation and unemployment!”, “Down with privatization-liberalization!”, “Withdraw the new education policy!”, “Stop suppressing the voices of those who take up the defence of the people’s rights!”, “Stop selling banks, railways, insurance, electricity, healthcare, and education!”, “Repeal the four labor codes that enslave workers!”, “Set the minimum wage at Rs.26,000!”, “Give equal pay for equal work!”
The organizers of the mahapadav in Delhi were – AITUC, CITU, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, INTUC, AIUTUC, AICCTU, U.T.UC, LPF, SEWA and ICTU. Representatives of all the organizing organizations addressed the Mahapadav.
The speakers strongly condemned the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people policies made with the aim of increasing the profits of big monopoly capitalist houses, domestic and foreign. Due to these policies, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing. Poverty, hunger, malnutrition and unemployment are increasing. The insecurity of daily wage workers has increased so much that they are forced to commit suicide. The standard of living of the workers is being pushed down through measures like retrenchment, lockout, and pay cut. New slavery is being imposed on the laborers through the four labor codes. Working hours are being increased from 8 to 12 every day.
The speakers drew attention to the fact that 95% of the workers in Delhi-NCR do not get the declared minimum wages. The workers are forced to work in unsafe conditions, as a result of which several of them lose their lives or are badly injured. The government and administration do not take any action against the guilty capitalist owners who are responsible for these deaths and injuries.
Public enterprises and services – rail, road, defence, airport, electricity, petroleum, transport, bank, insurance, communication, coal mining, education, health care, etc. – are being sold to domestic and foreign monopoly capitalist houses at throwaway prices.
Referring to the recent communal violence in Manipur and Haryana, the speakers made it clear that the capitalists and their governments were responsible for them. Their intention is to break the unity of the workers, peasants, women, youth and all toiling people and crush their united struggle against the all-round attacks of the capitalists.
All these things lead to a clear conclusion that if the economy has to be run in the direction of meeting the needs of the people and not in the direction of meeting the greed of the capitalists, then the capitalists have to be removed from power. The workers-peasants will have to establish their rule, establish the ownership of the society over all the means of production and become capable of taking all the decisions for society.
The mahapadav concluded with a group song by the women workers.