General Awareness Peasants, Tribal and Trade Union Movements
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Peasant Movement

The peasants and workers actively involved in the freedom movement after 1917. The emergence of socialist ideas created a deep impact on the peasants and the working class. They linked their social and economic grievances with the struggle for freedom.

The agrarian relations varied in different parts of the country. The high land revenue demand, exorbitant rents, forced labour, low wages for agricultural labour and indebtedness were the grievances faced by the peasants all over India. Some important peasant movements emerged in Champaran, Awadh, Malabar, Andhra and Bardoli.

Champaran Movement

The peasants in Champaran were forced to cultivate indigo by the European planters as per the Thinkathia system. Rajkumar Sukul, ruined peasant took up the cause of indigo peasants. In 1916, he participated in the Lucknow session of the Congress and spoke about the sad plight of indigo peasants. He brought Gandhiji to Champaran. A movement was launched and ultimately the government had to yield to certain demands of the peasants.m

Awadh Peasants

In Awadh peasants had to pay Nazarana[extra premium] to get and retain their holdings. Forced labour and various forms of illegal cesses were extorted by the landlords. Baba Ram Chandra started organizing the peasants and built up a strong movement. In 1921 massive peasant uprising took place in Awadh. The government crushed the movement. But, the government was forced to pass the Awadh Rent [Amendment] Act in 1922 which gave some relief to the peasants.

Malabar

In 1921 peasant uprising broke out in Malabar. The peasants were complained of high rents and illegal dues. The peasant movement developed in a massive fashion as a result of its becoming a part of the non co-operation and Khilafat movements. The peasants attacked government offices, looted treasuries and attacked unpopular landlords. The government was successful in giving the uprising a communal turn and succeeded in suppressing it.

Andhra

As a result of forest laws introduced by the British government there was considerable resentment among the tribals all over the country. Alluri Sitarama Raju, inspired by the non co-operation movement started organizing the tribals in the Rampa region in Andhra. The movement took a violent turn. Ultimately Raju was captured by the British and shot dead.

Bardoli

In 1928 under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel the peasants of Bardoli taluk of Gujarat organized a no tax campaign against the official effort to enhance land tax by nearly 30%. The peasants refused to pay the enhanced tax. In the end the enhancement was reduced to 6%.

Tribal Movement

Numerous uprisings of tribals have taken place beginning with one in Bihar in 1772, followed by many revolts in Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Tribal movements were not only agrarian but also forest-based. Some revolts were ethnic in nature as these were directed against zamindars, moneylenders and petty government officials.

`color{blue} ul ("Famous Tribal Movements")`

The Santhal Insurrection:

The Santhals are an agricultural tribal group who are mainly concentrated in Bihar. The first peasant insurrection took place in 1855-1856, which arose due to the establishment of the Permanent Land Settlement of 1793. Following this settlement the Britishers took away all the lands from the Santhals. The zamindars took these lands on auction from the Britishers and gave them to the peasants for cultivation.

The zamindars, the moneylenders, and the government officers hiked the land tax and also oppressed and exploited the common peasants. Though the Santhals tolerated the injustices to some extent, later on they decided to raise in revolt against the zamindars, moneylenders, and traders.

The Munda Rebellion

One of the prominent revolts of nineteenth century tribal rebellions in the Indian subcontinent was the Munda Rebellion. This rebellion was led by Birsa Munda in the south of Ranchi in the year 1899. The 'Great Tumult' aimed to establish Munda raj and independence.

Traditionally, the Mundas enjoyed a preferential rent rate known as the khuntkattidar, which meant the original clearer of the forest. However, in course of time, the Mundas realized that this system of khuntkattidar is being corroded by the jagirdars and thikadars who came as moneylenders and as traders.

Jharkhand Movement

The term 'Jharkhand' refers to a forest region and the term dates back to the sixteenth century. The forest region applies to the forested mountainous plateau region in eastern India, west of Gangas delta in Bangladesh, and south of Indo-Gangetic plain.

The area of Jharkhand consists of seven districts in Bihar, three in West Bengal, four in Orissa, and two in Madhya Pradesh. Around 90 per cent of the tribals in Jharkhand region live in Bihar districts. The two groups of tribals who were the main agitators of the movement were the Chotanagpurs and the Santhals.

The Jharkhand region is easy to defend, as it is a dense forest area. It was traditionally autonomous from the central government until the seventeenth century. The reason why the region became popular was due to its riches that attracted the Mughal rulers. Eventually, beginning with the Mughal administration there began more interference of outsiders and there was also a shift from traditional collective system of land ownership to one of private landholders.

Trade Union Movements

Trade unions are organisations of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of workers through collective action.

In India, the first quarter of the 20th century gave the birth of the trade union movement. A series of strikes were declared in India in the twenties. The success of most of these strikes led to the organisation of many unions.

In 1920, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was set up. In 1926, the Trade Unions Act was passed which gave a legal status to the registered trade unions.

Phases of Trade Union Movements

Indian trade union movement can be divided into three phases :

`color{blue} {" The First Phase: "}`

`color{green} ✍️ ` The first phase falls between 1850 and 1900 during which the inception of trade unions took place. During this period of the growth of Indian Capitalist enterprises, the working and living conditions of the labour were poor and their working hours were long. Capitalists were only interested in their productivity and profitability. In addition to long working hours, their wages were low and general economic conditions were poor in industries. In order to regulate the working hours and other service conditions of the Indian textile labourers,The Indian Factories Act was enacted in 1881.

`color{green} ✍️ ` As a result, employment of child labour was prohibited. Mr. NM Lokhande organized people like Rickshawalas etc., prepareda study report on their working conditions and submitted it tothe Factory Labour Commission. The Indian Factory Act of1881 was amended in 1891 due to his efforts. Guided byeducated philanthropists and social workers like Mr.Lokhande, the growth of trade union movement was slow inthis phase. Many strikes took place in the two decadesfollowing 1880 in all industrial cities. These strikes taughtworkers to understand the power of united action even thoughthere was no union in real terms. Small associations likeBombay Mill-Hands Association came up.

`color{blue} {" The Second Phase: "}`

`color{green} ✍️ ` The second phase of The Indian trade union movement falls between 1900 and 1947. This phase was characterized by the development of organized trade unions and political movements of the working class. It also witnessed the emergence of militant trade unionism. The First World War (1914-1918) and the Russian revolution of 1917 gave a new turn to the Indian trade union movement and organized efforts on part of the workers to form trade unions. In 1918, B P Wadia organized trade union movements with Textile mills in Madras. He served strike notice to them and workers appealed to Madras High Court because under „Common Law‟, strike is a breach of law. In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi suggested to let individual struggle be a Mass movement. In 1920, the First National Trade union organization (The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)) was established. Many of the leaders of this organization were leaders of the national Movement. In 1926, Trade union law came up with the efforts of Mr. N N Joshi that became operative from 1927.

`color{blue} {" The Third Phase: "}`

`color{green} ✍️ `Third phase began with the emergence of independent India (in 1947), and the Government sought the cooperation of the unions for planned economic development. The working class movement was also politicized along the lines of political parties. For instance Indian national trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union arm of the Congress Party. The AITUC is the trade union arm of the Communist Party of India. Besides workers, white-collar employees, supervisors and managers are also organized by the trade unions, as for example in the Banking, Insurance and Petroleum industries.

`color{blue} {✍️ "Function Of Trade Unions"}` :

Trade unions are related to protect the rights and enhance thewelfare of the members in particular and of the working class ingeneral. According to the national commission on labour(NCL),the important functions of the trade unions are :-

`color{green} ✍️ ` To secure for workers fair wages.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To safeguard security of tenure and improved conditions of service.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To improve opportunities for promotion and training.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To improve working and living conditions.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To provide for educational,cultural and recreational facilities.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To co-operate in and facilitate technological advance by broadening the understanding of workers for its underlying issues.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To promote identity of interests of the workers with their industry.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To offer responsive co-operation in improving levels of production and productivity, discipline and high standard of quality.

`color{green} ✍️ ` To promote individual and collective welfare.


`color{blue} {" Trade Union In India"}` had its germination in the last quarter of thenineteenth century, it was only in the first quarter of the nineteenth centurythat the trade union movement, as it is understood today, took its birth.N.M.Lokhande, who was a factory worker in Bombay, is regarded as thefounder of the organized labour movement in India. May day really in Mumbai

In India the Trade Union movement is generally divided on political lines.According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, trade unionshad a combined membership of 24,601,589 in 2002. As of 2008, there are 11Central Trade Union Organisations (CTUO) recognised by the Ministry ofLabour. AITUC rally in Alappuzha

The Indian workforce consists of 430 million workers, growing 2%annually. The Indian labour markets consist of three sectors :

`color{green} ✍️ ` The rural workers, who constitute about 60 per cent of the workforce.

`color{green} ✍️ ` Organized sector, which employs 8 per cent of workforce, and

`color{green} ✍️ ` The urban informal sector (which includes the growing software industry and other services, not included in the formal sector) which constitutes the rest 32 per cent of the workforce.

 
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