NATIONWIDE PROTEST DAY ON 22nd MAY 2020 - SAFEGUARD FCI BY SETTLING ITS SUBSIDY DUES

The Central Committee of FCI Employees Association (CITU) Congratulates all its members for expressing solidarity to the Nationwide protest called by joint Platform of Trade Unions on 22-5-2020 despite many hurdles during this pandemic. It is important to mention here that all the comrades who have declared solidarity had maintained social distance and wore a mask. It was organised in a peaceful and disciplined manner without disturbing operations of FCI. We also congratulate the employees and retired Employees of Food Corporation of India who has also participated from their home along with their family members. 

"The Central Government has announced deregulation and privatisation of core and strategic sectors like Defence production, Space Research, Power, Civil aviation, Coal and mineral sectors. The centre is planning a project for wholesale privatisation. It is also declared by the Hon’ble Finance Minister that non - strategic public sector undertakings will also be privatised. It is learned that there is also a proposal is live in Centre considering privatising food stock management to cut the carrying cost of FCI that inflates the food subsidy bill. The gap between the subsidy amounts released to the FCI and its actual operational expenses widened over the years. To meet the Operational and administration expenses FCI is now availing five-year long term loans from the National Small Savings Funds (NSSF) at a high-interest rate of 8.8% per annum. This is a big challenge for Our Corporation. To strengthen FCI and Its operations government should settle its pending subsidy. Privatizing Operations of Food Corporation of India, which, in the long run, will jeopardise the national food security of our country and job security of the FCI employees.
Combined with these reforms, a serious attempt is made for amending all labour laws in favour of employers. Already some state Governments had promulgated ordinances in this direction suspending all labour laws and increased the working hours from eight to twelve hours per day.
These pro-corporate reform measures and labour law amendments will severely affect the life and livelihood of crores of workers and common people of our country. FCI employees will not get any special exception in it.
In the coming days, more attacks are expected in FCI like outsourcing of FCI functions, large scale contractorisation, downsizing sanctioned staff strength etc. We should combat these onslaughts by all possible means. Let's unite and fight comrades... Working Class unity Znadabad...
#FCI #Nationwide_Protest #SAVE_FCI, #PDS
Fraternally Yours
Gibin Varghese
General Secretary
FCI Employees Association (CITU)