Gurgaon Incident: An Eye Opener For ALL

Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at - Post Comment

Thanks to media, both electronic and print, that the reality couldn’t escape the eyes of the Indian citizens.

The role of the company is amateurish. Can a democratic set up allow its workers to stop forming trade union? No. The Indian constitution too permits it clearly. Similarly there can’t be a bar to move to the court for getting the grievances redressed. Any citizen of India can explore the legitimate means of conflict resolution. Nor can the company introduce punitive pecuniary clauses which reflect the working conditions of the industrial revolution of 18^th century. The democratic rights of the worker must be allowed by the company which is also mandatory as per the constitution. Anything other than this shall be construed as naked exploitation.

When said this there is another very important point that these facilities to the workers are not bereft of the responsibilities. He has to follow the rules of the company and of course if wage is linked with the productivity then that too will have to be respected by the workers.

The district administration couldn’t play a very mature role. May be due to lack of proper homework as the notice for the dharna may have been given in advance. Administration says that the deal was almost reached. Then the administration must have been more cautious about ensuring that nothing happens which may be called untoward. If they came under the pressure from the management then that too is condemnable. The right balance should have been maintained. The issue for consideration is that why not sufficient precautions were taken on Monday which were seen on Tuesday. Blunder was committed in judging the situation. The officers could not think that Parliament was in session, the national media was at arms throw distance and the fact that Gurgaon was the centre of industrial activities in Haryana and such incidents would affect adversely, both nationally as well as internationally, the image of Haryana.

The state government failed in handling the situation adeptly. One of the leading national dailies says that when the workers went to meet the CM, Mr. Hudda, complaining about the ill treatment meted out by the management then he said ”agar kaam karma hai to laat khani hi padegi”. One can judge the attitude of CM of the state on such a sensitive issue.  No wonder that the police may have got the cue from CM himself.

The political parties have severally criticized the act of the administration and the government both within and outside the Parliament. There is nothing wrong it that. A democratic set up demands such a response. Keeping mum may create more conducive environment for exploitation. But the way LEFT  has reacted  it gives credence to the view that the enemy of UPA is not NDA but it is within. May be LEFT, in line with their philosophy of negativism, may be making grounds for ditching the government some day.( For my views on the role of LEFT read my article “Left Needs To Be Left, Else Country Will Be Left:”)

The impact of this incident is far and wide. Though the statement of the Japanese envoy that the FDI coming from Japan may get affected may not be true due to this one incident but it is a fact that the Government must gear up for  any such situation at the policy level. With more openness in the economy the issue of lay off, merger, consolidation, strikes, lock out etc. are bound to take place at a larger level. Country needs to have an environment which is conducive to both the employer and the employee. This finer balance needs to be maintained in the fast changing environment  at an accepted and comprehensive policy level. The central government must get to labour reforms without delay even if the LEFT wants it to be delayed.

 So far as the present incident is concerned the government may put pressure on the Honda company to take back all the workers without any discrimination and condition, see that the injured are given medical help for free, transfer the senior  administrative and police officers of Gurgaon with immediate effect, wait for the outcome of the judicial enquiry when may propel more actions then. Gurgaon incident is not only a lesson for the government of Haryana but for all the states and the central government as well, so far as the role of employers, employees, relationship between the two in a changing industrial environment, unions and LEFT is concerned.

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