Port Blair, Jan 29: The 38th Death Anniversary of Comrade P.K.S. Prasad, veteran trade union leader of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was observed today the 29th January, 2021 jointly by the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association and CITU. The main function was held at Crusade House premises at Phoenix Bay, Port Blair where wreaths were laid on the Martyrs Memorial Column of Com PKS Prasad by the leaders of trade unions, Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association and other organizations in the evening. This was followed by a remembrance meeting which was presided over by Shri R Rajendran, President of the Association who recalled the valiant struggles conducted by the trade unions and Association under the leadership of PKS Prasad.
Speaking on the occasion Shri K.G.Das, former General Secretary of NGOs’ Association explained about various anti-working class policies being pursued by the Central Government and called upon the govt. employees and workers to come forward to fight against such policies .He enlisted various struggles conducted by employees and workers under the leadership of Com.PKS Prasad. Addressing the gathering Shri Pronob Banerji, former President, Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association recalled the contributions of Com.PKS Prasad in sensitizing the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands to fight for their genuine demands including basic infrastructure in their area.
Shri T S Sreekumar, General Secretary, NGOs’ Association while addressing the meeting expressed concern over the delay in accepting various demands of the Central Govt. employees and workers by the Central Government whereas corporate sector is being extended with the benefits amounting to lakhs of crores of rupees in the name of economic package in the background of Covid – 19 and pointed out the government is utilizing the pandemic situation to advance its agenda of large scale privatization in Govt. sector and to deny the existing benefits of employees and workers.
Addressing the gathering Shri R Surendran Pillai, President, CITU emphasized the need to have broader unity among the workers and reminisced the sacrifices made by Comrade PKS Prasad for the upliftment of employees and workers. Shri S L Vinjit, while speaking on the function explained in brief the benefits being enjoyed by the government employees in the islands due to the movement conducted by late PKS Prasad. Shri NKP Nair, a veteran trade union leader of the Islands also addressed the meeting. Earlier Shri H B Choudary, D Lakshman Rao, Jayaraj, R Raji, S. Chinnaiah, Anand Raj ,E A Johnson and many other leaders of various organization paid floral tributes at the martyrs column.