CITU members hold march in Chamba

Chamba, February 16

Hundreds of activists under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today organised a protest in Chamba, demanding action from the government on several key issues.

The protesters voiced concerns over inflation, urging the government to curb rising prices of essential commodities such as food items, cooking gas, petrol and diesel.

The CITU protesters called for the reversal of the 33 per cent budget cut in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), along with a guarantee of 120 days of employment under the scheme and the implementation of a minimum daily wage of Rs. 375.

Among other demands, CITU demanded the reinstatement and revitalisation of the Worker Welfare Board for MGNREGA and construction workers and the provision of various financial benefits — including wages, medical assistance, death benefits, marriage assistance, maternity benefits, and pensions.

Furthermore, they opposed the government’s labour codes and the privatisation of public sectors — including banking, insurance, railways, and electricity. The protesters also advocated for the regularisation of Anganwadi, Mid-Day Meal programme and ASHA workers, along with the provision of gratuity benefits.

The protestors demanded that the stringent penalties and imprisonment provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act be repealed. Similar protests took place at the subdivision level across the district.