Agartala, September 25: The opposition CPIM-affiliated trade union, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), organized a large rally today in Agartala, demanding immediate resolution of several worker-related issues.
The union called for the timely distribution of bonus or ex-gratia payments ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, which leaders alleged have become irregular under the BJP-led government.
Former CPIM MP and CITU Tripura General Secretary Sankar Prasad Datta highlighted the growing concerns faced by workers in the state.
“We will be meeting the Labour Commissioner to discuss pressing issues regarding the welfare of laborers, including the Durga Puja bonus, which has not been properly distributed since the BJP came to power,” Datta stated.
CITU also raised demands for an increase in workdays and the prompt release of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Tripura Urban Employment Programme (TUEP).
Datta emphasized that many laborers are struggling to make ends meet as festival season approaches, with a significant portion of their payments still pending. “We urge the government to release these funds before the festival so that the poor can receive the money owed to them,” he said.
Datta further noted that the state government’s declared relief for flood victims, many of whom belong to the working class, has yet to reach a large number of people even after more than a month and hese delays are exacerbating financial hardships for many flood-affected families.
Speaking on inflation, Datta also criticized the government for not increasing the minimum wages of workers, especially those in the unorganized sector and those on contractual jobs.
He warned that the continued neglect of this issue would worsen the financial struggles of the state’s labor force.
CITU leader and former Minister Manik Dey raised concerns about the increasing incidents of workplace harassment, particularly against women.
“The rise in workplace atrocities against women is alarming, and the government must take immediate steps to address this issue,” Dey stated.
He also accused the BJP of forcibly extorting money from motor vehicle and transport workers by threatening them with membership in the party.
“The BJP has been pressuring workers to join the party, warning that they won’t be allowed to operate their vehicles unless they comply. This is undemocratic, and it must stop,” Dey added.
Hundreds of CITU members participated in the rally, carrying placards, flags, and banners.
The protest started from the Agartala City Center and proceeded through the streets of Agartala, with participants raising slogans demanding justice for workers and immediate action on their concerns.
At the conclusion of the rally, CITU leaders submitted a memorandum to the state Labour Commissioner, urging the government to promptly address a range of issues concerning the welfare of laborers and the working class.
The demonstration reflects mounting tensions between labor groups and the state government as Durga Puja, the biggest festival in Tripura, approaches.
