Trade unions' march in Delhi protesting price rise

Members of various labour unions participated in a protest rally at Jantar Mantar here on Friday demanding that the Union Government take immediate measures to control price rise, stop disinvestment of profit making public sector undertakings and provide social security to labourers in both the organised and unorganised sector. We have collectively launched an agitation throughout the country mainly against price rise, violation of labour laws, disinvestment of profit making PSUs, job loss and failure of the Government to set up a national welfare fund for the agricultural and unorganised workers.’’ Stating that the workers were the worst hit due to price rise, Mr. Reddy noted that labourers were unable to fulfill the basic needs of their families from their earnings in the present economic imbalance created by price rise. “We have been constantly reminding the Government about the adverse effect of price rise, privatisation and outsourcing but we are yet to get any relief,” said Bharitiya Mazdoor Sangh general secretary Rishi Pal Singh. Bharitiya Mazdoor Sangh member Puran Sharma said: “We feel that the Government has been working against the poor and for the rich by encouraging disinvestment of the PSUs and providing growth avenues to the private sector.” In their charter of demands, the protesters have demanded that the Government take immediate measures to control price rise, stop corruption, stop the disinvestment in PSUs and provide social security to workers in the unorganised.