The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) State unit and the Odisha Collieries Mazdoor Sangha on Sunday strongly opposed the Union Government’s decision to allow 100-per cent FDI in the country’s coal sector.
While the GDP growth has come down to 5 percent, agriculture growth has dropped to 2 per cent from 5.1 per cent. The unemployment is all-time high. Lakhs of jobs have been lost in textile, transport and tourism sectors because of dimonitision and the GST. The Centre’s decision for 100 per cent FDI investment in coal sector is nothing but a ploy to privatise sector against the interest of the workers and the country,” said INTUC State president Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia at a Press meet here.
Issues such as the Central Government’s move to dilute its share in banks, insurance and other PSUs in the name of controlling budget deficit, land pooling, changes in labour laws and the unions’ opposition everywhere were also raised by him. Dr Khuntia informed that the national working committee meeting of the INTUC would be held her for three days here from September 26 to 28. The proposed meeting will be attended by about 500 trade union leaders from across the county. The INTUC would formulate future agitation action plans to protect right of workers.
Sangha president Kishore Patel and general secretary Soubhagya Pradhan opposed the Union Government’s decision. Among others, INTUC State vice-president Sandhya Mohapatra, youth wing president Satyabrata Nayak and Sridhar Choudhury were present.