The year 2024 saw massive struggles waged by workers, farmers, women and youth for their rights, in many parts of the country.
Workers of different sectors—electricity, railways, defence, steel, etc.— came out on the streets in large numbers, to resist the attacks on their livelihood and rights.
Workers of the electricity sector and masses of electricity consumers organized several protests and demonstrations against privatisation and smart meter installation. On 12 March, electricity workers of Maharashtra held state-wide demonstrations against the state government’s policy of privatisation. In September, the Action Committee of Maharashtra’s electricity workers, comprising several unions in the sector, organised protests opposing privatisation of hydro-electric power generation plants, handing over of transmission projects to private companies, and installation of smart meters. They also demanded equal wages for equal work for contract workers, guaranteed employment till the age of 60 years, regularisation of contract workers, and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
In October, electricity workers in Himachal Pradesh launched an agitation against the abolition of posts and retrenchment of employees. On 25 November, electricity workers of Rajasthan organised protest actions against the privatisation of the state electricity generation department under the garb of a joint venture. On 26 November, electricity employees in many states observed a country-wide protest day against privatisation, smart meters, and contractualisation. They demanded regularisation of workers and filling up of vacancies. Huge protests were held in several states, including Jammu & Kashmir.
Since the beginning of December, electricity workers in Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh have been vigorously opposing the privatisation of state owned power distribution companies. With the participation of farmers as well as city consumers, they organized massive Bijli Panchayats in Lucknow, Agra, and Varanasi. In Chandigarh, city residents, including women and children, and farmers’ organizations took out a march to oppose the government’s move. Although the UP government and Chandigarh administration have imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), workers are determined to continue their struggle with the spirit of ‘do or die’. They have received support from electricity workers of various states, workers of different sectors, as well as farmers’ and consumers’ organizations.
Electricity workers, consumers and farmers protested against smart meters in large numbers in Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Punjab. Multiple demonstrations were organized in various cities of Gujarat. In Odisha, 15,000 farmers removed the smart meters installed at their homes and farms and deposited them at the offices of Tata Power.
Railway workers across states, divisions, categories, and unions have been protesting against overwork and demanding the filling of vacancies. They have persistently pointed out that every day, several railway workers — track maintainers, signalling and telecom workers, and loco pilots — die on duty due to their difficult working conditions, including lack of safety measures and overwork.
On 30 January 2024, workers of workshops of Eastern Railways organized protests against the railway authorities’ unilateral decision to increase working hours from 45 to 48 hours. Through their struggle, they forced the authorities to put their decision on hold. On 10 February, all loco pilots working in the Mumbai Central Railway suburban division launched an agitation refusing to work extra hours.
Signalling and Telecom (S&T) workers of railways went on a fast on 14 March to protest against the deaths of workers while on duty. On 9 May, loco pilots of goods trains in Mumbai went on mass sick leave, bringing goods train movements to a halt, in protest against policies that increase their work burden and threaten their safety. On 12 August, station masters staged a protest in Mumbai demanding immediate filling of vacant positions and improved working conditions.
On 1 June, loco pilots of Southern Railways, led by All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), launched a nearly month-long agitation demanding their rightful hours of rest and reduced working hours. This militant struggle received support from loco pilots across India and from several other railway unions and workers’ organizations. Through their struggle, the loco pilots forced the Railway Board to constitute two committees to look into their grievances.
On 3 October, loco pilots and assistant loco pilots in Gandhidham (Western Railways) went on an indefinite hunger strike. They demanded withdrawal of charge sheets issued to loco pilots for protesting against frequent extension of duty hours to 13 to 15 hours, and against the violation of standard rules of work by the authorities. They also demanded the filling of vacancies. The strike went on for 82 hours and crippled goods traffic to and from Kandla and Mundra ports. It forced the railway authorities to withdraw charge sheets issued to 5 loco pilots.
On 16 October, station masters of the Indian Railways held a one-day hunger strike in Delhi for better working conditions, safety allowance and abolition of the 12-hour duty roster, etc.
May Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. On this occasion, processions, rallies and meetings were organized in different cities and in rural areas. The Joint Forum of Trade Unions of Delhi organised a rally and public meeting. Workers from different sectors joined this program in large numbers, with the militant participation of women workers. Public meetings and rallies for May Day were held in various cities and towns of Tamil Nadu. Demonstrations were organised by central trade unions, hospital workers, BSNL employees, garment workers, and factory workers in the state. May Day meetings were organised in Sirsa, Haryana, and Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.
On 23 September, central trade unions and workers’ organizations organised an All India protest action against the four labour codes. On 26 November, trade unions and farmers organisations organized a Worker-Farmer Joint Protest demanding withdrawal of the four labour codes, legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price for all agricultural produce, regularisation of contract workers, minimum wages of Rs. 26,000/month for all working people, as well as social security for workers.
Government employees and workers in railways, defence, education, electricity, and other sectors continued to demand withdrawal of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restoration of the OPS. They refused to accept the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) proposed by the government. Protests were held at all district headquarters in the country on 26 September, and a massive rally of tens of thousands of workers was organized in Delhi on 17 November.
Employees of Indian Bank organised zonal demonstrations in July to oppose the management’s call for hiring 1500 apprentices on contract at paltry salaries. IDBI workers organised gate meetings and a dharna in Delhi in August to oppose the sale of IDBI bank. In October, Federal Bank employees held a massive protest in Aluva, Kerala, demanding better working conditions, adequate recruitment, and regularisation of contract workers.
ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the country persisted in their struggle for dignified wages .They demanded to be recognised as government employees. In Andhra Pradesh, Anganwadi workers braved the ESMA to protest, for nearly a month for their demands such as a salary of Rs. 26,000 and pension. In Maharashtra, Anganwadi workers protested for more than 45 days for their rights. Thousands of ASHA workers from various states gathered outside parliament in New Delhi on 29 November to raise their legitimate demands. On 10 December in Hyderabad, thousands of ASHA workers demanded minimum wages, insurance cover, and retirement benefits.
In February this year, the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, representing 3500 workers at 11 major Indian ports, declared that it will refuse to load or unload weaponised cargo for Israel or for any other country carrying military equipment and allied cargo for Israel.
The All-India Forum for Right to Education organised a protest demonstration outside Parliament in New Delhi on 3 February 2024. The participating students, teachers and parents demanded withdrawal of the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2023. They also demanded universal, fully state-funded, uniform and good quality education, from pre-primary to post-graduation. They raised their voice against privatisation of education and demanded regularization of contract teachers.
On 7 February, thousands of construction workers, agricultural workers, domestic workers, fisheries workers, and gig workers organized a rally outside Parliament. They demanded comprehensive legal protection for their rights as workers. On 12 December, domestic workers from across the country protested at Jantar Mantar. They demanded their rights as workers.
On 22 February, a large number of workers took out a massive procession and protest under the leadership of Joint Trade Union Forum Delhi to express anger over the death of workers in a factory fire in Alipur, Delhi. They demanded that the state and Central governments take steps to ensure safety at the workplace.
Workers of Guindy Machine Tools in Chennai went on strike on 22 March demanding a wage hike and other basic necessities. The GMT management terminated 126 of the striking workers from the company. Undaunted by this attack, workers intensified their strike with determination.
On 2 August, defence civilian employees organized a protest outside parliament against corporatisation of ordnance factories, privatisation in defence production, outsourcing, and other issues. Workers unions jointly observed 1 October as ‘Withdraw Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories Day’.
IT workers in Karnataka organized several protests and demonstrations after the state government proposed in July to standardise a 14-hour working day instead of the existing 10-hour working day. A large demonstration was held at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on 3 August.
Contract workers belonging to different trade unions participated in a joint protest called by ‘Workers Employees Joint Action Committee Maharashtra’ at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on 23 August 2024. They demanded minimum wages of Rs. 26,000/month and pension of Rs. 10,000/month, equal pay for equal work, and repeal of the four labour codes.
Workers of Samsung Electronics factory near Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, started an indefinite strike on 9 September 2024, demanding recognition of their union, wage revisions, and better working conditions. Braving arrest and intimidation by the authorities, they continued their struggle resolutely for 37 days, forcing the management to accede to some of their demands.
On 30 September, 2024, a dharna was organized near IMT Manesar, Haryana, under the leadership of Maruti Suzuki Struggle Committee, demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed workers. The main demands of the protestors were written on a huge banner put up at the dharna site – “Immediately reinstate 1800 contract workers and 546 permanent workers who were sacked on 18th July 2012 by the conspiracy of the management in an attempt to liquidate their militant union!” “Let us organise to end the contract system and trainee-apprentice based production system in Gurgaon-Manesar-Dharuhera-Bawal region!”
On 4 October, workers in the multi-specialty Hindu Rao Hospital of North Delhi launched an indefinite strike for their demands of salary hike, filling of vacancies, regularisation of contract workers, and abolition of the contract system.
Tea-garden workers in Darjeeling launched a relay hunger strike on 8 October for their just demand of timely payment of salaries and bonus. Women workers participated militantly in this struggle.
On 28 October, the trade unions in the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) organized a joint strike, demanding payment of arrears pending for 39 months, payment of bonus, job security for contract workers, and filling of vacancies. They also demanded that the authorities should stop privatisation or divestment in any unit of SAIL. Despite threats issued by the management, steel workers carried out their agitation successfully.
Construction workers, under the banner of Building Workers Union, demonstrated in Delhi on 27 November 2024 raising their demand that workers should not be made to suffer the consequences of the shutdown of construction due to pollution, which caused them to lose their daily earnings.
Agitation by farmers
On 26 January, tractor rallies were held by farmers unions in 484 districts across India, in support of demands of minimum support price (MSP), pension for farmers, and against privatisation and smart meters. Farmers also demanded justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre and withdrawal of police cases against protesting farmers.
Several farmers organisations planned to march from Punjab to Delhi to carry out a protest in the capital to highlight their demands, in particular the demand for a legally guaranteed MSP. The Haryana Police unleashed savage repression to prevent farmers from entering Haryana at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Barricades were put up at the two borders, and farmers were fired upon, in which one farmer was killed and many seriously injured. Since then, farmers have stationed themselves at these two border points. They have declared that they will not withdraw their agitation at the Punjab Haryana border unless and until the Central government fulfils their demand for MSP or allows them to exercise their democratic right to march to Delhi to protest outside parliament.
On the call of trade unions and farmers organisations, workers and farmers observed 23 February as Black Day all over India to condemn the killing of and injuries to farmers. A huge farmers-workers mahapanchayat was organised in Delhi on 14 March 2024. More than 40,000 farmers participated in this mahapanchayat, including large numbers of women.
On 31 August 2024, farmers marked the completion of 200 days of their latest Delhi Chalo March, which started in February, by organizing rallies at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana. The dharna at the borders have been carrying on till the end of the year, marked by repeated forays by jathas of farmers to cross the border and reach Delhi. The protesting peasants have had to face brutal suppression of their attempts with lathis and tear gas by the Haryana police. On 30 December the agitating farmers’ organisations called for a Punjab Bandh. Thousands of peasants in all the villages and districts of Punjab militantly responded to the call, organising protest marches and rail roko agitations all over the state.
Farmers in Punjab held a militant dharna on 17 October, raising the demand for purchase of paddy by the government at minimum support price rates. Beginning on 18 October, they carried out dharnas in front of the houses MLAs, MPs, and leaders of political parties. Farmers’ unions in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan protested over the shortage of DAP fertiliser, which can affect the sowing of the wheat crop. Farmer leaders have pointed out that this shortage is a recurring issue that is deliberately created by the government to increase prices, ultimately helping capitalists in the fertiliser industry maximise profits.
On 20 November, farmers of the Nohar subdivision in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan protested in support of their demand for water for their crops – a long standing demand that remains to be addressed.
Struggle to end communalism and communal violence
A protest meeting was held on 1 November in Delhi calling for an end to state organised communal violence and state terror. Organised by Lok Raj Sangathan with several other organisations, the protest was held on the 40th anniversary of 1984 genocide of Sikhs. The meeting asserted that the Indian people need a state that ensures the right to life, the right to conscience, and all other human rights of every member of society.
On 6 December, a meeting was organised by Lok Raj Sangathan to mark that dark day when the Babri Masjid was demolished by the Congress-led central government and BJP-led UP government. The entire campaign to build the Ram temple at the site of the mosque and the massacres that followed was part of a deliberate plan with the political aim of dividing people on communal lines, when masses of working people were uniting in opposition to the attacks on their livelihood and rights. The meeting pledged to take the struggle forward to put an end to the politics of state-organised communal violence and communal division of the people.
Protests against oppression of women
On 6 March, several women’s organisations in Delhi organised a protest action to observe International Women’s Day and highlight their demands. Women activists, including young students and senior citizens, were viciously attacked by the police. However, the women militantly carried out their protest within the police station.
After the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata in August, doctors, nurses, women activists, rights’ activists, and workers across the country came out on the street to condemn the violence and demand justice. Throughout the country, daily protest marches, candle-light protests and dharnas were organised, demanding strictest punishment for the guilty. On 11 September, junior doctors in Kolkata launched a ‘cease work’ protest to demand thorough investigation of the crime. They also questioned the lack of healthcare infrastructure in the state as well as shortage of healthcare workers. The agitated doctors have continued their determined struggle despite government efforts to spread false propaganda against them.
Several women’s organisations came together on 16 December at Jantar Mantar to organize a joint protest against the increasing violence and oppression of women under the banner – “From Nirbhaya to Abhaya-Remember and Resist”. The protest was held to mark the 12th anniversary of the brutal rape and murder of a young woman. The speakers held the present political and economic system and the state that defends this system responsible for the repeated incidents of discrimination, oppression, sexual violence and crimes against women. The meeting drew the conclusion that it is only the united struggle of all exploited and oppressed women and men that will deliver justice and security to women.
Peoples struggle in defence of the environment
In 2024, tribal communities in Surajpur, Surguja, and Korba districts of Chhattisgarh continued to struggle against their forests being taken over by capitalist corporations for mining coal. In early December 2023, the felling of trees in the Hasdeo Aranya forests of Chhattisgarh resumed, with heavy police security, only 18 months after the state legislature had unanimously passed a resolution in July 2022, asking the central government to cancel all mining projects in these forests.
In October, a protest demonstration of people of Ladakh passed through Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana and reached the Delhi border, demanding an end to destruction of the environment of Ladakh. The Central government unleashed its police forces to prevent the protestors from raising their demand outside parliament.
In defence of the Palestinian people
A mass rally was organized in Delhi on 7 October 2024, marking one year since the beginning of Israel’s ongoing genocidal war against the Palestinian people and more recently in Lebanon and other areas. Hundreds of men, women, students, youth, and people from different walks of life gathered outside parliament, with placards reading ‘Down with Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people!’, ‘Condemn the support of US imperialism for Israel!’, ‘Down with the Israel’s terrorist attack on Lebanese people!’, and ‘Down with the sale of arms to Israel by Indian companies!’