Political adversaries off and on accuse CPM of double
standard on the issue of computerization saying that though the party had
vehementally opposed introduction of computerization, now the same party
is making use of the same. The crux of
opposition of CPM towards computerization is as follows. It is a fact that CPM
had opposed computerization when it was introduced in our country. This opposition was purely borne out of the
fact that it will lead to loss of jobs of a good number of employees who were
in position. It is not correct to say that CPM’s opposition was only confined
to computerization. As a matter of fact the party had also opposed unrestricted
mechansation whether it be coir industry, textile industry or even paddy
cultivation. This opposition was also based on the same analogy of loss of jobs
of existing workers..
A couple of instances wherein CPM had agitated against such
practices are cited hereunder. When the mechanisation
was introduced in late 60s in the field of coir industry in Kerala, CPM and the
union owing allegiance to it had opposed the same. This was due to the fact
that a good number of people are already engaged on the jobs of processing the
coconut husks as also other connected works in the making of coir yarn, coir
mat etc. Later on with the passage of time, when shortage of agricultural
workers was experienced, party had to
allow introduction of mechanisation to that extent to help the peasants.
In addition to coir industry another field where mechanisation was sought to be introduced in the 60s in
Kerala was paddy cultivation. In this case, when tractors and tillers were
introduced, those agricultural workers who were already engaged in the work of
ploughing, sowing, cutting the ripened paddy and separating the paddy and straw
etc., had to face the threat of being thrown out of employment. Naturally CPM
lost no time in launching a hectic struggle against mechanisaton in the field
of paddy cultivation. While the ant-tractor agitation was going on, the
proponents of mechansation including CPI had taken the opportunity of branding
CPM as anti-development They had gone to the extent of even ridiculing the
stand of CPM and the unions owing allegiance to it regarding loss of jobs. Interestingly, they used to taunt CPM on this
score saying that “if the contention of CPM and the union owing allegiance to
it is to be taken into account then even
street lights are not necessary. In lieu of street lights at every spot
wherever it is provided one person each can be engaged who will hold a
petro-max or hurricane lamp so that they will get jobs.” The anti-mechanisation
struggle in both coir and agricultural fields had started in Alleppey district
of Kerala which had spread to other districts subsequently. Inspite of the fact
that almost all the other political parties had combined against CPM on this
issue, the struggles launched by CPM to protect the interests of the workers
against mechanization had fructified wherever it was launched.
After elapsing of some years, both in the field of coir
industry as also paddy cultivation whenever dearth of workers was faced, party
had allowed mechanisation to that extent. There is no denying the fact that the
party has been making use of computer for the purpose of storing the
information as also retrieving the same, which cannot in any way result in the
loss of job of any existing employee.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that CPM’s opposition to
both computerization and mechanization in the fields of coir and paddy
cultivation was purely based on the fact that these will result in loss of jobs
of existing workers specially so in the face of acute unemployment problem confronted
by the country. In the light of this, CPM’s stand on the issue cannot be termed as double standard at any
cost. Rather this propaganda is nothing but shutting one’s own eyes and making
others to believe that it is dark.
To sum up, CPM is still opposed to indiscriminate
introduction of indiscriminate computerization and mechanization in any area
wherever it affects the jobs of existing labour force.
*****
Lal Salaam comrade!
ReplyDeleteThe opposition to computerization, in my opinion, defies logic of our age. And more than anything it is the government sector that is in dire need of computerization.
World over, governments and corporations rely on computers to reduce dependency on human interference. Policies need to be process centered rather than people centered. This not only improves time for tasks, it also cuts down on corruption owing to an audit trail initiated by the system.
Moreover, opposition to mechanization will dissuade entrepreneurs in the agricultural space owing to costs of employment. Looking at the way labourers in Kerala work, it is certainly the toll of doom for agriculture in the state.