The Left makes no attempt to hide its delight at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent ‘highly successful’ visit to Beijing. An editorial in the latest issue of People’s Democracy, titled ‘PM’s visit to China: Towards Multi-polarity’, exults, “By all accounts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit. has positively contributed towards carrying forward the improvement of relations between the two Asian giants.” The editorial says that perhaps the most important aspect of this visit “has been the enlargement of the canvas on which improvement of relations is being sought. There has been a newfound sharing of concerns at the developments in Pakistan and the readiness to work together to meet the consequent threats of terror. The most important, however, appears to be the recognition that a stronger economic relationship between India and China could well move the centre of economic gravity of the world towards Asia.” Don’t talk, doA letter that CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury wrote to the PM — asking for greater allocation of funds to the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme and to the aanganwadi workers and helpers working in it — has been published in People’s Democracy. Yechury writes, “Informing that the government is committed to expanding ICDS, you (the prime minister) assured that the remuneration of the aanganwadi workers and helpers would be enhanced and the demand for ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the aanganwadi workers and Rs 50,000 for the helpers who were being severed from service in the name of retirement would be favourably considered. Subsequently a ‘Review Committee’ has been constituted at your directive, reportedly to examine the demands raised by the federation. The Committee has submitted its report around a year back. I am constrained to inform you that till today, neither have its recommendations been made public nor has the government taken any action on the assurances given by you.” Big Nano debateThe journal takes on Ratan Tata and the Nano. It says, “Somebody once said that a car can be used to understand the nature of industry in any economy. That need not be taken literally, especially in a predominantly agricultural nation like India, but the passenger car industry in India certainly illustrates the many contradictions in the current phase of India’s development. Ratan Tata has called the Nano the ‘people’s car’ and even the official website bears that name. It is far from it. $2,500 may appear small by standards of global car prices, but it is still three times the per capita income of India and half the population still goes to bed hungry.” Bill of rightsThe CPM calls for a united movement to press for the implementation of the Unorganised Workers Bill. An article by Politburo member and CITU president M.K. Pandhe says, “The movement of the unorganised workers has to note that despite the recommendation of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector as well as the Standing Committee of Parliament on Labour, the UPA government is not going to accept them easily.” The article calls for a united movement all over India to ensure that unorganised workers get their due.
