India: BWI mourns passing of veteran trade unionist Jogendra Nath Tripathy

The Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI) is saddened to hear the news about the passing of Jogendra Nath Tripathy, General Secretary of the Orissa Kendupatra Karmachari Sangha (OKKS) on the early morning of 6 February 2022 at the Dhenkanal, Odisha State in India. 

Jogendra Nath Tripathy was a well-known and widely respected veteran leader in the Indian trade union movement. He held a number of important positions in the past, notably as Chairperson of the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Chair of the Odisha State Seed Corporation, and an esteemed member of the Odisha State Social Security Board for Welfare of the Unorganized Workers. He also held senior positions at the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), a national centre, where he was National Vice-President and HMS Odisha State Council General Secretary.

Jogendra Nath Tripathy dedicated his life fighting for the rights of the forestry workers, including Kendu leaf in the Odisha State. He was involved in pushing for a number of policy changes, government schemes and workers’ benefits through the Kendu Leaf Pluckers and Binders Welfare Trust.  He was very active in the BWI sectoral meetings and also in the Indian Affiliates Council (IAC). 

Despite his health condition, Jogendra Nath Tripathy attended the 28^th Indian Affiliates Council (IAC) meeting held few weeks back at Bhubaneswar where he displayed his sincerity and commitment to the cause of workers. His passing is a huge loss to the trade union movement.  We will remember and cherish his extraordinary work in and contribution to the forestry sector of the Odisha State.     

BWI joins our Indian trade union affiliates in extending our deepest condolences to Jogendra’s family, friends and union comrades in their time of mourning.