Mass Rally and Meeting Organized by Pragatisheel Shramik Manch on International Labours’ Day
Jharsuguda: On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, the Pragatisheel Shramik Manch, along with Jharsuguda Workers’ Association and other labour organizations, jointly organized a mass rally and a public meeting on May 1st. The rally started at 5:30 PM from the Railway Station Square and culminated in a gathering at Gandhi Chowk, Golbazar.
International Workers’ Day commemorates the 1886 labor movement in the United States, where workers protested demanding an 8-hour workday. Following the success of this movement, May 1st is celebrated globally as Workers’ Day.
The main objective of the rally and meeting was to raise awareness about workers’ rights, highlight growing exploitation, unemployment, domestic violence, and the increasing number of worker deaths. The event served as a platform to advocate for labour rights and awareness.
Workers from different areas gathered at the Gandhi Chowk stage under the leadership of community leaders. The meeting was presided over by Lakshmi Chandra Gurung. Prominent participants included Rajkumar Sahu, Bikash Kanu, Ashutosh Mishra, Anil Sharma, Manoj Kumar Chal, Rajeev Arjya, Amit Biswal, Roshan Das, Rajneesh Basu, Sudipta Behera, Sheikh Sabir Hussain, Gopal Jena, Ritu Sahu, Manoj Sahu, Tapan Raut, Nibas Mohanty, Bijay Sahu, Subhas Sahu, and Jagatprasad Jagat.
The meeting officially commenced at 6:04 PM. During the event, one of the forum members announced their intention to join another labour organization, signifying a step toward broader unity. Many new and familiar faces were present at the gathering.
The core demand of the Pragatisheel Shramik Manch was the full implementation of government labour policies and wage schemes.
Notable speakers at the event included Manjulata Agarwal, Deepa Kumari, Sudha Behera, Reshma Kumari, Prabha Kumari, Swati Kumari, Sasmita Patra, Rashmi Kumari, Pratima Nayak, and Rekha Kumari. They emphasized the daily struggles faced by women laborers, their contributions to family and society, and the ongoing exploitation and violence. They called for women workers to unite and protest against the system, advocating for dignity, equality, and justice.
The program concluded with a song by a local cultural group. Folk songs and revolutionary songs invigorated the gathering. Anchoring duties were carried out by Bikash Kanu and Prashant Mishra.
Present at the event were workers from across sectors, including Jharsuguda, Belpahar, Brajrajnagar, Kolabira, Lakhanpur, Banaharpali, Bagdihi, Kirmira, and Laikera.
