People's Democracy

Bengal CITU Adopts Aids Awareness Campaign

THE Bengal unit of the CITU has adopted an awareness programme to help workers stay away from AIDS and related diseases. The aim said the state president of the organisation Shyamal Chakraborty was to spread consciousness about the affliction amongst workers and their families. Lack of consciousness helped the spread of most diseases, commented the CITU leader.

By 2007, the Bengal CITU hopes to reach out to more than one lakh of workers with the message of awareness. Shyamal Chakraborty said that social awareness about AIDS would be carried forth among the mass of the workers by eight unions affiliated to the CITU, with the CITU centre playing an effective co-ordinating role. The unions were: 

• Forward Seamen’s’ Union of India

• South Bengal State Transport Corporation Employees’ Union

• North Bengal State Transport Corporation Employees’ Union

• West Bengal Road Transport Workers’ Federation

• West Bengal State Electricity Board Workmen’s Union

• Paschim Banga Rajya Bidyut Sahayak Karmi Union

• West Bengal Construction Workers’ Union and

• I C D S

Three training camps have been set up, continued Shyamal Chakraborty for purposes of education the educators. The first batch of 70 educators is in fact ready to take to the field. 215 assistant educators, too, have received training. Shyamal Chakraborty said that in spreading awareness about AIDS, the CITU would eventually deploy all its 13-odd lakh workers in the task all over Bengal. (BP)