Q.19. Give the brief history of Industrialisation in India. (AKTU. 2014 - 15)
Ans. Industrial activity on modern lines pricked up after the British took over the reigns in India. Between 1850 - 60 Jute mils were set up. In the beginning, rail track between mining centres in Bihar and Calcutta were laid. Along with the development of means of communication there was rapid industrial growth in India. About this time foreign merchants established textile mills in Bombay and Ahemdabad. In Kanpur woolen and leather factories were established. These factories were under British ownership though the raw material was supplied by Indians and the labour working in these factories was also Indian.
The British government used to export the raw materials from India and import into India the finished goods at exhorbitant prices. In 1911, Jamshed ji Tata ushered in an era of Indian industrial revolution by setting up a steel mill in Jamshedpur. After the first world war, the British encouraged setting up industries in India.
Q.20. Write down the meaning and importance of Trade Union in India.
(AKTU. 2014 - 15)
Ans. A trade union is an organization of employees formed on a continuous basis for the purpose of securing diverse range of benefits. It is a continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining and improving the conditions of their working lives.
The Trade Union Act 1926 defines a trade union as a combination, whether temporary or permanent, formed primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workmen and employers or between workmen and workmen, or between employers and employers, or for imposing restrictive condition on the conduct of any trade or business, and includes any federation of two or more trade unions.
This definition is very exhaustive as it includes associations of both the workers and employers and the federations of their associations. Here, the relationships that have been talked about are both temporary and permanent.
This means it applies to temporary workers (or contractual employees) as well. Then this definition, primarily, talks about three relationships. They are the relationships between the:
- workmen and workmen,
- workmen and employers, and
- employers and employers.
Thus, a trade union can be seen as a group of employees in a particular sector, whose aim is to negotiate with employers over pay, job security, working hours, etc, using the collective power of its members. In general, a union is there to represent the interests of its members, and may even engage in political activity where legislation affects their members. Trade unions are voluntary associations formed for the pursuit of protecting the common interests of its members and also promote welfare. They protect the economic, political and social interests of their members.
Importance Of Trade Union: -
The existence of a strong and recognized trade union is a prerequisite to industrial peace. Decisions taken through the process of collective bargaining and negotiations between employer and unions are more influential. Trade unions play an important role and are helpful in effective communication between the workers and the management. They provide the advice and support to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts. The central function of a trade union is to represent people at work. But they also have a wider role in protecting their interests. They also play an important role in organizing courses for their members on a wide range of matters. Seeking a healthy and safe working environment is also prominent feature of the trade union.
Trade unions help in accelerated pace of economic development in many ways as follows:
- by helping in the recruitment and selection of workers
- by inculcating discipline among the workforce
- by enabling settlement of industrial disputes in a rational manner
- by helping social adjustments.
Workers have to adjust themselves to the new working conditions, the new rules and policies. Workers coming from different backgrounds may become disorganized, unsatisfied and frustrated. Unions help them in such adjustment.
