10 December, 2008After completing the age of 62 brother Dyvadheenam, former IMF representative for South Asia, passed away in India.
INDIA: On December 06, 2008 at the age of 62 the former IMF representative for South Asia region brother Terla Dyvadheenam died as a result of sudden massive heart attack.
Brother Dyvadheenam, called by his numerous friends and colleagues simply as "Dyva", started his professional career in 1966 at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in Hyderabad, where he worked as Sr. Master Technician for 30 years. During his second year of service he became a shop steward and dedicated much of his time to the struggle for a collective bargaining mechanism for Bangalore based Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).. Dyva was elected as President of the workers' union at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and served in this position for 22 years.
Before joining the IMF in 1997, Dyvadheenam was an active union leader of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) serving in a number of different capacities including, Secretary of Steel, Metal & Engineering Workers' Federation of India, Organising Secretary of the National Council of HMS, Convenor of the Coordination Committee of Central PSUs Trade Unions in Hyderabad and others.
He along with fraternal trade union leaders led the biggest ever Public Sector Undertakings strike in 1982 for parity of wages amongst PSU's. In this connection, he was arrested under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and remanded to judicial custody, suspended for his duties for 18 months. In 1992 however he received the May Day Shram Shakti Award from the Government for services to unorganized workers.
As IMF representative for South Asia, Dyva played an important role in assisting the development of the trade union movement of the region as well in establishing relations with other Global Union Federations.
He actively promoted collaborative work of IMF affiliates at the national and regional level, thus building solidarity between all the unions involved in Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh. Thanks to Dyva's efforts, sub-regional committee work received a new energy and focus, creating a strong foundation for success of future IMF activities in the region.
Working under umbrella of the IMF, Dyva was one of the initiators of the IMF organizing project for workers of the Shipbreaking Industry in India and EPZs workers in Sri Lanka. Under his direction, the emergence of young leadership and capacity building of IMF affiliates in the region became more visible than ever before.
Dyvadheenam retired in September after 11 years of service as the IMF representative for South Asia region. The IMF expresses its deep condolences to his family, relatives and friends. "We will remember Dyva for all his work for the metalworkers of Asia and in particular for his passion for the victims of injustice and unfairness," said Marcello Malentacchi, IMF General Secretary.
Rest in peace dear Brother. Workers and the international trade union movement will always remember you for your priceless contribution to the global labour movement.