A militant rally was organized by the Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangathan on 21st October, 2008. Thousands of workers from different corners of India, from Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and other states gathered at Mandi house which was the start of the rally. The main aim of the rally was to demand an empowering legislation which would protect the interest of workers in the unorganized sector.
The organizations which joined force with the unorganized workers were Delhi Shramik Sangathan, Chattisgarh Domestic Workers’ Union, All India Three-wheeler Drivers’ Association, Delhi Kabadi Mazdoor Sangh, Green Recycler Association, Punjab Construction Workers’ Union.
Various leaders of the different organizations addressed the rally. Subash Bhatnagar, National Convenor of the Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangathan, said that the law made by the government is a mockery as far as the unorganized workers were concerned.
Speaking on the occasion, the secretary of the Delhi Council of Lok Raj Sangathan, said: “the government claims that whatever is in the interest of big capitalists in the country is in the interest of the workers and peasants! But then, Indian big capitalists are buying up companies not only inside the country but also those in Germany, and England! Secondly, there has been no change whatsoever in the conditions of workers and peasants. The government works mainly to ensure the profits of the big capitalists. History is evidence for the fact that the change of government or its representatives has not solved the problems faced by the workers and peasants. In order to ensure that workers and peasants get their due and their problems get solved, we will have to each in each of our areas build Lok Raj Samitis and we have to take over the responsibility of running this country”.
The rally ended with the handing over of a memorandum to the Prime Minister signed by 15000 workers!
