May Day Marked With Rallies Across Godavari Districts
State water resources minister Nimmala Rama Naidu participated in a rickshaw rally at Palakollu and pulled a rickshaw for nearly four kilometres along with workers.
KAKINADA: May Day was observed across the Godavari districts—Kakinada, Eluru, Konaseema, East and West Godavari—with rallies, processions and public meetings on Friday. Workers took out marches carrying red flags and raised slogans against what they termed anti-labour policies. Both the ruling Telugu Desam Party and opposition YSRC organised programmes.
State water resources minister Nimmala Rama Naidu participated in a rickshaw rally at Palakollu and pulled a rickshaw for nearly four kilometres along with workers. He said joining workers on May Day each year gives him satisfaction and underlined their role in the state’s development. He alleged that the labour sector suffered during the previous YSRC regime.
In Rajamahendravaram, CPI, AITUC and labour unions held a large procession. CPI state secretary G. Eswaraiah unfurled the party flag in the presence of CPI state secretariat member T. Madhu, district secretary Rekha Bhaskara Rao and AITUC district general secretary K. Rambabu. Eswaraiah said protests have begun in several states against labour policies and called for wider mobilisation. He alleged that labour laws secured through earlier struggles had been diluted and demanded a minimum monthly wage of ₹35,000, stating that many workers are paid less than ₹12,000. He also called for periodic pay revision in line with rising prices.
CPM Kakinada secretary Palivela Veerababu demanded withdrawal of new labour laws, alleging they favour corporate interests. Speaking at a May Day event in Peddapuram, he said workers were being pushed to work excessive hours and criticised the minimum wage provisions under the new labour codes.
