Sir,
Sir,
I am writing to thank you for carrying the second part in the series entitled “Views of the working class on the program of economic reforms” in the columns of MEL of November 16-30, 2011. It contains the views of several leaders of the working class including those that represent the views of insurance workers, postal workers and motormen. The views that are represented are those of the highly conscious end of the working class spectrum and therefore it is very important to hear what they have to say. They concur that the period of liberalization and privatization has been one in which the rich in India have become richer and the working people have found their lot to have worsened. There has been a debunking of the supposed success of the rapid growth phase, and it has been repeatedly pointed out that this has benefited only the big industrial houses. The respondents have pointed out that there has been a systematic method by which the working class has been stripped of its rights. They have described in detail and with great passion the manner in which the policies of the Government are tearing apart the fabric of society. The immense poverty and deprivation that have been the fellow travelers of the liberalization and privatization programme may be directly traced to the policies of the Government. It has also been pointed out that the general response of the state to any kind of opposition is to crush it, through the use of arbitrary draconian laws such as the infamous Sec. 144.
On the other hand, it is time to take stock and to note that the working class is now completely fed up with this state of affairs. There can be very few that still have any illusions as to what the full portent of the system is. This gives rise to vast opportunities to unite once and for all against the rule of the big capitalist houses and the Government that rules the country for their benefit. The working class through its most conscious element now has a concrete opportunity to put forward its vision for an alternative. Let there be no further wastage of time in this regard.
Sincerely,
Narayan,
Bangalore