Budget protested
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IMPHAL, Feb 5 : Members of various trade and worker unions as well as farmer groups of the State burnt copies of the "anti-people, anti-labour, anti-Manipur" Union Budget 2025-26 during a protest meeting at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul today.
The protest meeting was staged as part of a Nationwide protest against the anti-labour policies of the NDA Government and introduction of economic policies favouring corporate interests.
It was organised by the All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur; Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), Independent Federation of Banks, Central Government and State Government Employees Federation.
Speaking on the occasion, L Sotinkumar, general secretary, AITUC Manipur said that AITUC fully endorses the Nationwide protest against the "authoritarian" NDA Government.
As part of the protest, he informed that copies of the Budget will be burnt at various District Headquarters.
Lambasting the Narendra Modi led Government, he pointed out that the BJP Government favours the wealthy class while accusing it of being dismissive of the interests of the labourers and workers.
Stating that power and wealth in the country are concentrated among a few elites, he criticized the privatisation of public sector undertakings.
Wealthy capitalists in the country have privatised many hospitals and airports by investing large sums of money, he added.
As per the Union Budget 2025-26, individuals with taxable incomes up to Rs 12 lakh will not be required to pay any tax. But in stark contrast, labourers, mid-day meal workers etc receive meagre wages. Anganwadi and ASHA workers are not recognized as Grade IV employees of the Government, he maintained.
He also addressed other issues including irregularity in distribution of PDS rice and the demand to increase the minimum unskilled manual work under MGNREGA from 100 days to 200.
In the health and education sector, the Budget has failed to address the needs of the public.
Another Nationwide protest will be held on February 14 demanding an increase in budgetary allocation to different sectors, he added.
The protest meeting was attended by Ksh Santa, secretary, CITU, Manipur; Yumnam Ranapratap, president, AITUC Manipur; Kh Gyaneshwar, general secretary, TUCC; K Manoranjan, secretary, UTUC; L Sarat, working president, Manipur Government Secretariat Federation; Ksh Saheb Singh, BSNLEU; Rahena Begum, general secretary, All Manipur Minority Unorganised Workers Union; L Thoiren, secretary, MSC/CPI; Sarat Salam, president, Loumi Marup Manipur and S Yaima, working president, AITUC Manipur as presidium members.
The protest meeting was staged as part of a Nationwide protest against the anti-labour policies of the NDA Government and introduction of economic policies favouring corporate interests.
It was organised by the All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur; Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), Independent Federation of Banks, Central Government and State Government Employees Federation.
Speaking on the occasion, L Sotinkumar, general secretary, AITUC Manipur said that AITUC fully endorses the Nationwide protest against the "authoritarian" NDA Government.
As part of the protest, he informed that copies of the Budget will be burnt at various District Headquarters.
Lambasting the Narendra Modi led Government, he pointed out that the BJP Government favours the wealthy class while accusing it of being dismissive of the interests of the labourers and workers.
Stating that power and wealth in the country are concentrated among a few elites, he criticized the privatisation of public sector undertakings.
Wealthy capitalists in the country have privatised many hospitals and airports by investing large sums of money, he added.
As per the Union Budget 2025-26, individuals with taxable incomes up to Rs 12 lakh will not be required to pay any tax. But in stark contrast, labourers, mid-day meal workers etc receive meagre wages. Anganwadi and ASHA workers are not recognized as Grade IV employees of the Government, he maintained.
He also addressed other issues including irregularity in distribution of PDS rice and the demand to increase the minimum unskilled manual work under MGNREGA from 100 days to 200.
In the health and education sector, the Budget has failed to address the needs of the public.
Another Nationwide protest will be held on February 14 demanding an increase in budgetary allocation to different sectors, he added.
The protest meeting was attended by Ksh Santa, secretary, CITU, Manipur; Yumnam Ranapratap, president, AITUC Manipur; Kh Gyaneshwar, general secretary, TUCC; K Manoranjan, secretary, UTUC; L Sarat, working president, Manipur Government Secretariat Federation; Ksh Saheb Singh, BSNLEU; Rahena Begum, general secretary, All Manipur Minority Unorganised Workers Union; L Thoiren, secretary, MSC/CPI; Sarat Salam, president, Loumi Marup Manipur and S Yaima, working president, AITUC Manipur as presidium members.