NAWANSHAHR: Apart from a blood donation camp by Punjab Roadways employees in association with local Blood Donation Council, rallies and dharnas by employees, workers and daily wagers marked 122nd World Labour Day celebrations in the district Thursday.

Activists of Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) observed the day as anti-inflation day.

Hundreds of IFTU bare-chested activists after holding a rally at government secondary school playground, took out a march in the town banging empty tins to lodge their protest against the unprecedented rise in the prices of essential commodities.

Demanding effective steps to control inflation, they were demanding supply of essential commodities to the poor at subsidized rates through public distribution systems.

The protesters were further demanding strict implementation of labour laws in the country. IFTU state vice president Kulwinder Singh Wurraich called for reappraisal of current policies of globalization and privatization in the country. He termed the recent spurt in prices across the world as the direct outcome of these programmes.

"Many countries including India are fastheading towards starvation because of these economic policies," he said, adding that the entry of MNCs into the retail sector would render around 6 crore small traders and nearly 5 crore rehriwalas across the country without any means of livelihood.

Leaders of Democratic Teachers' Front, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Bhatha Mazdoor Union, Kirti Kisan Union, Forest Department and PWD also addressed the dharna.

In another protest lodged to mark the Day, activists of various trade and workers' unions under the banner of Joint Platform of Mass Organisations (JPMO) held a rally at railway station here. Speaking on the occasion, JPMO convener Diwan Singh warned the state government of dire consequences if it failed to concede the demands of its employees soon.

Shaheed Naujwan Sabha senior Sarup Singh, CTU leader Sohan Singh and Shiv Kumar Vashisht of GTU, among other, addressed the rally.

Meanwhile, at the blood donation camp at Punjab Roadways Depot, 21 units of blood were collected.