Appeal for cow hug day unconstitutional – AITUC

Appeal for cow hug day unconstitutional – AITUC

Subject : History

Section :Modern India

Concept :

• Left­wing trade union All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) questioned the appeal of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to mark February 14 as ‘cow hug day’.
• Terming it as shocking and outrageously appalling, the AITUC secretariat said the Centre approving such an appeal was all the more deplorable.
• The appeal was ‘unconstitutional’ as the Indian Constitution stood for encouraging scientific temper, it said and urged the Centre to immediately withdraw it.

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)

• The most important development in the workers’ movement during independence struggle was the formation of All-India Trade Union Congress under the leadership of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai.
• It was formed in 1920 at Bombay.
• Since then the working class movement became strong and by 1930 onwards, an ideological tone was added to the movement.

Cause of Formation:

• Many people connected with labour realised that there was a need for a central organisation of labour to coordinate the works of the trade unions all over India.
• The formation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1919 acted as a catalyst for it.
• The members selected from AITUC represented the Indian Labour at the ILO.

Leaders Involved:

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, N.M.Joshi, B.P.Wadia, Diwan Chamanlall, Lala Lajpat Rai and Joseph Baptista were the main leaders behind the formation of AITUC.
• Lala Lajpat Rai became the first president of the AITUC and Joseph Baptista its vice president.
• Lajpat Rai was the first to link capitalism with imperialism: “imperialism and militarism are the twin children of capitalism”.

Ideology of AITUC:

• In the beginning, the AITUC was influenced by social democratic ideas of the British Labour Party.
• The Gandhian philosophy of non-violence, trusteeship and class-collaboration had great influence on AITUC.
• Since 1945, the All India Trade Union Congress has been politically associated with the Communist Party of India.
• Trade Union Act, 1926:
• The act recognised trade unions as legal associations.
• It laid down conditions for registration and regulation of trade union activities.
• It secured civil and criminal immunity for trade unions from prosecution for legitimate activities, but also put some restrictions on their political activities.

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI )

• AWBI is a statutory advisory body under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying)
• It derives its legal structure from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• It was established in
• It was started under the stewardship of Late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, well known humanitarian.
• Headquarters: Chennai
• Mandate:
• It frames rules on how animals ought to be humanely treated everywhere.
• It has also frequently litigated to have stricter laws to ensure animals were not unduly harassed or tortured.

Membership:

• Several government organisations, along with animal rights activists and parliamentarians, are represented on the Board.
• The Board consists of 28 Members.
• The term of office of Members is for a period of 3 years.