'CMP being implemented according to Action Plan'

Kolkata, Aug 12: Refuting charges of the Left parties that the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) was not being implemented properly, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said it was being done on the basis of the Action Plan.

Speaking on the sidelines of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Labour cell programme, Mr Dasmunshi said the Congress party has always been working for the improvement of the labourers.

Citing an example, he said that in the Congress-ruled states, wages paid to the labourers of the unorganised sector was much higher while it was low in a state like West Bengal. He said it was a 'shameful' thing to happen because the Left Front has been ruling the state for the last 30 years.

He said the Labour cell was directed to send a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to ensure wages parity for both men and women.

About the possible action to be taken following detection of pesticide in cola products in states like Kerala and West Bengal, he said it depended on the Left Front government in both these states as they had brought in the Cola giants in their states.

When asked about the Maoist problem in West Bengal, Mr Dasmunshi, also the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said, ''CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri went to Nepal to speak to Maoist leader Prachananda but ignored the problems of Maoists in Purulia. Instead police is sent to fight the Maoists in Purulia.'' Union Labour Minister Chandrashekar Sahoo, who was also present on the occasion, said an official Bill would be tabled in Parliament to provide pension and free health check-up to those above 60 years in the unorganised sector.

Mr Sahoo said that Child-labour will be abolished from September one.

UNI