Alampalli Venkatram ji speaking-with-labours
Bharateeya Mazdoor Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh regrets to announce sad demise of Sri Allampalli Venkatram, Its leader, who breathed his last on 18.01.2009 at 6.00am.
ALLAMPALLI R.VENKATRAM, S/o Late Allampalli Ramswamaiah, aged about 78 years (18.06.1931) completed his B.Com in the year 1955 and spent his whole life to the cause of workers welfare for the past 51 years. He is a bachelor, devoted himself to the cause of the society. He has participated in Jammu and Kashmir Sathyagraha for the full integration of Kashmir with the Bharat in the year 1953 which was headed by Late Dr.Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, on an account of which he was imprisoned for 3 months jail in Delhi Tihar Jail and Firozpur jail of Punjab. In 1948 he participated in RSS sathyagraha against the ban imposed on it and was in jail for 3 months. Again in 1975-76 for almost the entire period of emergency he was detained under MISA in Bangalore Jail and Gulbarga Central jail as he offered sathyagraha to protest against the curtailment of trade union rights by the then Prime Minister Smt.Indira Gandhi. He has attended Industrial Relation Course for overseas trade unionists under Colombo plan which was 3 ½ month course at London and Belgium. He was the member of Central Board of trustees of provident Fund for 20 years up to July 2008. He was a member of the Regional Board of ESIC. It is because of his relentless struggle the finance Ministry yielded to pay higher interest on savings.
He stoutly opposed handing over hard earned savings of workers in PF to private agencies for investment. He was also instrumental in getting cost of living allowances to unorganized workers. He fought up to Supreme Court in 1984. Prior to this, there was no dearness Allowance to workers in unorganized sector so that price rise could be neutralized.
He devoted his entire life in the cause of workers welfare. In his demise the working classes of Karnataka have lost a leader who empathized with their causes.
His body will be kept at ‘Yadava Smruthi’ Sheshadripuram link Road, Opp to apoorva Iyemgar Bakery, Bangalore – 20 on 19th Jan from 11am to 1pm, for his well wishers to pay obeisance. Cremation will be at Harischandra Ghat at 2.00pm.
The BMS, Karnataka prays for the departed soul.
Shri Allampalli Venkatramji’s death has left a void in the labour field. He was a rare kind of labour leader who became the real voice of the workers. His entire life is an inspiring saga of dedicated service to the cause of the working class.
A man with serious commitment and honesty of pupose, Shri Allalmpalli was also a lively person who could laugh and make others also laugh.
I remember our days in Bangalore prison during Emergency. They were real great days indeed!
Although he was in trade union for decades, he remained an ajatashatru!
My respectful homage to our dear Shri Allampalli Venkatram and I pray almighty to bestow everlasting peace to the departed soul.
Datta Hosabale