ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୧୯, ୧୯୬୮ ଏକଦିବସୀୟ ଧର୍ମଘଟର ସହିଦଙ୍କୁ ଲାଲସଲାମ

 ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୧୯, ୧୯୬୮ ଏକଦିବସୀୟ ଧର୍ମଘଟର ସହିଦଙ୍କୁ ଲାଲସଲାମ

ସର୍ବନିମ୍ନ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ମଜୁରି, ମୂଳ ଦରମାରେ ମହଙ୍ଗା ଭତ୍ତା ମିଶ୍ରଣ,  ମୂଲ୍ୟବୃଦ୍ଧିର ନିଷ୍ପ୍ରଭାବିକରଣ ଆଦି ଦାବି ନେଇ ୧୯ ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୧୯୬୮ର କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କର ଏକ ଦିବସୀୟ ସର୍ବଭାରତୀୟ ଧର୍ମଘଟ ଡାକରାରେ ତତ୍କାଳୀନ ସରକାର ଧର୍ମଘଟରେ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇଥିବା ୧୭ ଜଣ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କୁ ପୋଲିସ ଓ ମିଲିଟାରୀ ଫୋର୍ସଙ୍କ  ଦ୍ଵାରା ଲାଠି ଓ ଗୁଳି ମାଡ ସହ ଟ୍ରେନ ଚଢେଇ ମାରିଦେଲେ, ପାଖାପାଖି ୧୨ ହଜାର କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କୁ କାରାଗାରରେ ବନ୍ଦୀ କଲେ, ୪୦ ହଜାର କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କୁ ନିଲମ୍ବନ କଲେ ଓ ୬୪ ହଜାର କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କୁ ଚାକିରୀରୁ ବରଖାସ୍ତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନୋଟିସ ଜାରି କଲେ ଏବଂ ସର୍ବୋପରି  ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ କରୁଥିବା ଡାକ ତାର କର୍ମଚାରୀ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ମହାସଂଘ (ଏନଏଫପିଟିଇ ଯାହା ଡାକ ଓ ତାର ଦୁଇଟି ଅଲଗା ଅଲଗା ବିଭାଗ ହେଲାପରେ ଏନଏଫପିଇ ଓ ଏନଏଫଟିଇ ନାମରେ ପରିଚିତ)ର ମାନ୍ୟତା ପ୍ରତ୍ୟାହାର କରିନେଲେ। ଧର୍ମଘଟର ସୁଫଳ ଯଦିଓ ତୁରନ୍ତ ମିଳି ନଥିଲା, ଏହି ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ ପରେ ୧୯୭୦ରେ ନିଯୁକ୍ତି ପାଇଥିବା ତୃତୀୟ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରୀୟ ବେତନ ଆୟୋଗ ଦାବିଗୁଡିକୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱର ସହ ବିଚାର କରିଥିଲେ। ଆଜିର ଯୁବପିଢିଙ୍କୁ ଏସବୁ କାହାଣୀ ଭଳି ଲାଗିଲେ ବି ଏ କଥା ବୁଝିବାକୁ ହେବ ଯେ କୌଣସି ସଂଗ୍ରାମ କେବେ ବିଫଳ ହୁଏନି।

#19th_September_1968_Historic_Strike:

Demanding (1) Need-based Minimum Wage to all Central and State Govt. employees on the basis of the norms evolved by the 15th Indian Labour Conference, (2) Full neutralization of cost of living, (3) Merger of DA with basic Pay, (4) No Retrenchment / Victimization and (5) No reduction in retirement age, a joint statement was issued by CCGEW and All India State Govt. Employees Federation (AISGEF) on 12.07.1968. The National Convention of Confederation held at New Delhi on 13.07.1968  expressed strong protest at the negative stand of the Govt. which refused to refer to arbitration  the two issues of Need-based Minimum Wage and Merger of DA. “Demand Day” was observed on 08.08.1968. Confederation, NFPTE, AIRF and AIDEF held their Executive Committee Meetings and decided to go on a One Day Token Strike on 19th September, 1968 and observed “National Mobilization Day on 13.09.1968 and massive demonstrations on 17.09.1968.

The historic strike began at 6 AM on 19.09.1968. Thousands and thousands of employees in Post Offices, RMS offices, Telephone Exchanges, Telegraphs Offices, and other Central Govt. Offices walked out of their duty places. The entire communication system in the country remained standstill. Treating the strike as “Revolt”, ESMA was promulgated and indiscriminate arrests made all over the country. It was a war-like situation. Arrest of leaders started on 18th September itself. About 3000 employees and leaders were arrested from Delhi alone. All over India about 12000 Central Government employees and leaders were arrested and jailed. In spite of all these repressive measures the strike was a massive success all over India and in all departments including Railways, Defence, P&T, Audit and etc. About 64000 employees were served with termination notices, thousands removed from service and about 40000 employees suspended. Eight employees were brutally killed at Pathankot and Bikaner. Govt. issued orders derecognizing all Unions and Federations which had served strike notice.

19th September 1968 strike is written in red letters in the history of Indian Working Class. The strike was historic in more than one sense. The same government which refused to accept the demands was compelled to implement some of them afterwards. DA was granted regularly.  Third CPC was set up in 1970.  Liberalized pension scheme was introduced in 1973. No struggle goes in vain. The long term impact of a struggle for a genuine cause should be understood properly. The benefits of past struggles often accrue to the present / future generation.