CULTIVATE CADRES FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING

After assuming charge as General Secretary, AIPEU Group C CHQ,  this was the first Editorial I made in the Bhartiya Post. It is applicable even today. 

AN INTROSPECTION

CULTIVATE CADRES FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING

Trade Union must be an organisation functioning vibrant, dynamic and with a definitive purpose.  It should also have the capacity to organise actions of a manifest nature in the interest of its members and also against all injustice.  It should be a functioning one of the Primary Members, availing their contributions in the functioning.

The divisional / branch secretaries at base levels are the driving forces of all activities and programmes launched at higher levels.  The dire need of the day at base levels is that the member must be kept continuously fed with the news which is relevance, interest and importance.  By imparting knowledge to the members, the secretary has equally learnt from them.

The Secretary should meet the members as often as possible. The member has wisdom, capacity and contributions to make.  The member is not merely the one who has a grievance to be redressed by a demand to make.  He possesses the idea, plan and strength in securing the redressal of the grievance or achieving the demands.  The Secretary should draw out the latent power of a member to fortify the organisation and to carry forward the movement.

This aspect of circulating and disseminating the information at all levels can be zealously done and never be ignored.  There are two kinds of medium i.e. the one by releasing circulars, journals and the second by holding meetings formally or informally as frequent as possible.  This has no substitutes or alternative to the other.

Informal gatherings, discussions etc. are not to be shunned or prohibited, as they should be in addition or as a valuable supplement to the circulars/journals.  The cadres of grassroots levels have to be cultivated and involved in all activities.  The involvement of cadres, their cultivation, and their participation are the needs of the hour.

 Of course, it could be seen that several programmes notified by the Federation / CHQ / Circle have not being observed in true spirit in the recent past in many places.  The cadres are not being involved, motivated or educated in such programmes and the programmes become rituals without the involvement of cadres.

We should not forget if such things continue, and the cadres are not cultivated and involved in the struggles, even for the fringe benefits or small gains, we have to wait and depend on forums like JCM which are not as assured as frequent.

Involvement of cadres, their cultivation, participation and contribution is the dire need in the present situation. Let our Branch / Divisional Secretaries take a vow to emerge afresh with the capacity of launching movements and exhibit their involvements in all the strikes / programmes in the days to come. The present road blocks, whatever it may be, be removed at once and all the programmes be assured for its successful implementation. 

Let us strive hard in this direction for the struggles ahead and succeed. "STRUGGLE FOR UNITY AND UNITY FOR STRUGGLE!"

(Editorial December 2006)