Unorganised workers struggle in Karnataka

STATE REPRESSION OF SEPTEMBER STRUGGLE OF KARNATAKA WORKERS
Just as the `id of March’ made significant by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar the `id of September’ became etched in the History of Working Class Struggle and popular movement in Karnataka. Although, not named exactly so, the term September Struggle is on the lips of several thousands already in Karnataka
Unorganized Sector Workers Struggle
15th September, 09 all over the state almost every district head quarters witnessed thousands of women and fewer men marching in the streets with raging red flags held high and their rendering slogans pressing for solution to their distress of low wages, rising prices, security of employment, social security and so on.
The town folk and district administrators who had been continuously alerted earlier looked diffident, as they expected nothing more than `processions’ (which according to many of the onlookers and the police are nothing but nuisance, and the district administrators only thought that as usual they will be kept shouting and the `busy’ officials will have to just come out or send someone out receive the memorandum and `assure them’ that the matters will be looked into, and there the batter would end.
Thorough Preparations
More than two years preparations, tirelessly done over an idea conceptualized earlier was based on the concrete analysis of the concrete conditions subjecting the working people to penury and destitution, amidst roaring profits for the corporate rich and roaring prices oppressing the masses and depressing wages which is at the base of the whole system. The struggles, visualized thirty years ago tried with sure impact starting from 1979 Hotel Workers, through to Unorganized workers in Bangalore and the plantation area in 1988, extended through Northern Karnataka by participation of Handloom Weavers in Nov 1993 Struggle in Bangalore, suffering a setback and lull for over a decade, is once again taken up with full vigor and commitment.
The current phase was well prepared starting with Raichur Class in June 2007 laying the basis for preparations, planned struggle held back due to fall of Kumaraswamy Govt, the lotus wave, illusions in the mind of people etc. It was taken up afresh from Nov 2008 onwards, through massive signature campaign launched on Nov 7th, 2008 all over the state. One Million signatures were collected throughout the state, half a lakh workers Marched to Bangalore on 5th February, 2008, serving the notice and submitting the petitions. It was received on behalf of the Government in a Mass Rally of over 40,000 workers that day in Bangalore. The picketing of Taluk Offices on 5th March in protest area wise conventions etc preceded the September Struggle.
It did not happen that way on the id of September. And the TV screens of all those who were tuned to Kannada Channels sough for themselves the savage attacks of the police force at Hassan, before noon and there was no stop thereafter. It continued for three days, Raichur and followed by it Gulbarga bursting on the TV screens and the normal take it easy Kannada psyche wondering in disbelief, and learning that it is not just an incident but a well prepared struggle raging throughout the state.

First time in the History: the spread and intensity
Of the 175 taluks in Karnataka, at 75 taluks for five days the Dharna took place on all the five days from September 7th to 11th, and from these taluks came the Marchers to the District Head Quarters on 15-17 September. Including these 75 taluks, the Dharnas were held from a single day to four days: Thus 161 out of 175 taluks saw the red flags fluttering almost at the same time for issues affecting the Class as a Whole, in turn the People as a Whole. The 15th September Struggle was staged in all but one District Head Quarters of Karnataka, numbering 28.
The impact was special when the women, the Anganwadi workers, the mid day meals workers, the Beedi workers with Hamlaies, Gram Panchayat Workers pressed forward in the struggle. They pressed forward, suffering at times temporary retreats, regrouped further leading to intense struggle everywhere in places where the local leadership acted correctly.
The workers did not disburse for three days, at a place like Hassan they sat through day and night, in drizzle and rain, cooked their food, and disbursed only after they got the arrested leaders released. All these were lively broadcast in Karnataka. Workers elsewhere pressurized their local leadership for much better and fruitful participation.
It has shown that when the correct idea grips the minds of masses they themselves will take the struggle forward.
The Impact
The KARNATAKA UNORGANISED WORKERS STRUGGLE became the topic of discussion in almost every house, office and even streets. It is not merely for the reason of the police brutality, the callousness of the administrators, the plight of the toiling people, but also the fact that the people understood that these valiant fighters are not just fighting for themselves but in the interest of the entire people. After all the people are suffering with roaring prices, low income, high costs for all services, and here are women and men on the streets raising the slogans which they should have all raised, getting beaten up, yet not abandoning the struggle.
The people witnessed for once that at almost every place where the police tried to disburse the agitators, mostly women, resisted such pressures, regrouped in waves after waves. And the first place where it burst forth at Hassan the determination of women refusing to vacate the premises, squatting day and night, in the downpour, cooking food on the spot serving themselves, and engaged in ditch battles till their leaders are released.
The leadership quality of the participants was clearly seen at places the attack was severe. Where the district administrations were understanding they kept the agitation going out of hand, yet the pressure of the agitators brought situation to the brink as at Bellary, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Karwar and so on.

The Struggling thousands continued mostly in the district head quarters where the officials were diffident schemy and acted brutal. And in other places it continued on the 16th as well in the form of protests etc. At Raichur there was a bundh on 16th in response. At the call of the state leadership there was renewed pressure on 17th all over again and this phase ended with the Labor Minister coming to the agitators and their leaders at Bangalore and announcing dates for discussions with the Chief Minister on 6th or 7th of October.
A Respite
The state leaders announced a respite with holding further demonstrations and the results of the discussions are awaited as these lines are written. The CITU State leadership has made it clear that unless a solution is found to the low wages, security of employment, social security, statutory regulation of contract, rationing, house sites, implementation of labor laws and relief / compensation to the workers who are thrown out as a result of closures of factories or stoppage of employment under govt. schemes, CITU is determined to raise the struggles to further and further.
Keeping the powder dry
Even as the announcement was made about the possibility of negotiations workers all over the state have shown the intentions that they are ready to face whatever the situation. And has kept up the determination, spirits and preparations high to launch many more struggles, until demands, general and that of each and every sections is achieved, the state punish guilty officials, withdraw the false cases, and show genuine concern for the welfare of the people, which is expected of them.
SEPTEMBER STRUGGLE DID NOT JUST HAPPEN IT WAS THE RESULT OF OBJECTIVE SITUATION WHICH COMMITTS MILLIONS SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS, TENS OF THOUSANDS WILLING TO RESPOND AND THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF HUNDREDS OF ACTIVISTS AND THE DETERMINATION & RESTLESS MIND LEADING THE WHOLE STRUGGLE.
HOWEVER IT HAS ENCOUNTERED NEW PROBLEMS IN THAT OF THE SITUATION FACING THE PEOPLE OF KARNATAKA ON EVEN MORE CHALLENGING JOB, THIS TIME FACING THE AFTERMATH OF NATURE’S FURY AND FAILURE OF GOVERMENTS TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.
END OF SEPTEMBER & NEW SITUATION
Even as the above lines were composed for publication on 30th September, the nature’s fury happened in Northern Karnataka. .The nature’s fury unleashed across Northern Karnataka, starting from 30th September, went on unabated for three to four days. The area that got battered most severe happened to be the area the new wave of struggle were witnessed. The Krishna Basin, sweeping across north of Tungabhadra River, downstream of the Tungabhadra Dam, with parts of Bellary and Koppal, sweeping to the North, Bagalkot swept by two tributaries to Krishna, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha, in the South and Krishna itself in its North with Narayanpura Dam where Kudala Sangama is located, and Bijapur usually the driest area through which five rivers flow to the North and the Raichur Doab between Tungabhadra and Krishna as also Gulbarga further North where Bheema itself a Tributary to Krishna and several rivulets discharge to them all bore the brunt of the battering.
The RAIN HAVOC, loss of over two hundred lives, destruction of more than two lakhs houses, etc has created an insurmountable difficulty for the people. The three districts of Bellary, Raichur, Gulbarga where the September Struggle had serious impact, along with Bagalkot and Bijapur in which districts the struggle was well prepared and was bracing for another wave of struggles, suffered the most in the Rain Havoc.
The meeting fixed earlier by CM on 6th October got postponed indefinitely, in the wake of the Disaster and the state leadership has turned their attention on Relief, Resettlement etc. all over the State. The State Capital and other districts like Hassan where the struggle was well conducted and which invited the first fury of the police have switched the mode to street collection of money and relief materials.
The talks are expected any time and further course adopted keeping in mind the mood of the people. One of the eight demands i.e. Right to Food, has acquired a new dimension, enhanced and not diminished by the Disaster.
Un daunting Task
Originally planned to be taken up as a continuation for which the September struggle was waged earlier, is further being taken up by holding a Convention on Right to Food on 26th October at Bangalore: this time in the name of Left Parties. By then it might become possible to pick up a new tempo by CITU if the talks are held.
Whatever happened, people’s struggle, nature fury etc, the distress of the people only got enhanced and it is upto the leadership to brace them to the occasion and act in the interest of the people through their own organization and direct participation.
In this the Karnataka Workers aided by the peasants and other sections will not be wanting.
VJK Nair