Govts working for the rich: CITU chief Dr Hemalata

Vijayawada: Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU) all-India president Dr Hemalata on Saturday said that the women have been waging struggles for the last 150 years for equal wages, working hours and recognition for their work.

Addressing a workshop on ‘Democracy-Equality-Minimum Wages-Job Security’ jointly organised by the Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU) and AIDWA in connection with the International Women’s Day here with K Saroja in the chair, Dr Hemalata deplored that with the cut in welfare programmes, the ICDS was weakened. 

She said that the governments have been working for the millionaires and billionaires but not for the poor.

She demanded regularisation of the services of workers of Anganwadi and ASHA. She called upon the women workforce to strive to bring down the BJP government.

Sramika Mahila state convener K Dhanalakshmi said that the governments were not working wholeheartedly for the welfare of women. 

The women are confined to the homes with the conduct of competitions in Rangoli and tailoring training programmes, she pointed out.

She demanded implementation of minimum wages for women, provision of employment opportunities, to achieve women empowerment. 

Despite the promises to increase salaries of ASHA, Anganwadi workers and railway contract workers, they were not implementing them, she said.

Though the constitution provides free education and medical facility, in practice they were not implemented, she said and added that we should vote to the people who would work for us.

AIDWA district secretary Sridevi, BSNL Ramadevi, UTF district secretary Leela and others also spoke.