Thousands of functionaries of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), gathered in support of the scheme workers such as Aanganbadi, Asha, Mid-Day meal and NHA workers, at Jantar-Mantar of New Delhi on December 11. In the protest rally held, the union leaders, along with thousands of scheme workers, demanded increased basic pay structure and facilities such as social security for all the scheme workers associated with long operational schemes such as Aanganbadi, Asha, Mid-day Meal, and the National Health Mission (NHM).
A BMS delegation after the rally also visited relevant ministries such as Women and Child Development, Health and Education Ministry and submitted a memorandum pertaining to their demands. Later on the trade union also issued a press note explaining the overall condition of these workers and the demands of the union.
Aanganbadi and Asha Workers.
In the press release issued, Ravindra Himante, the General Secretary of the trade union, asserted that around 27 lakhs of Aanganbadi workers and helpers who have been associated with as many as six prominent works such as malnutrition and other issues pertaining to children since 1975 are tasked with works such as BLO, Census, Ration Card, Pulse-Polio, etc. They have been working around eight hours a day but are still not getting the basic salary. They have also not been provided with social security, and the government has no fair policy for promotions.
Similarly, around 12 lakhs Asha workers who are indulged in works such as providing crucial information pertaining to health issues in rural and urban areas, providing primary treatment, carrying people to the primary cares and briefing them about the importance of hygiene and cleanliness are also facing issues pertaining to salary and lack of other facilities such as social securities, read the press release further.
NHM and Mid-Day meal Workers
The leaders of the trade union also raised their concerns about the condition of the midday meal and NHM workers. In the press release issued, the General Secretary of the union informed that around 28 lakhs of workers are associated with the Mid-day meal Scheme, under which food has been provided to 12 crores students in around 11.5 lakh primary schools across the country, though the workers associated with the scheme are not covered under any social security and even not paid well.
In every state, schemes related to health facilities are operated under the NHM, under which doctors, paramedical staff, ambulance drivers, data entry operators, nursing officers, ANM, Lab technicians, public health cadre staff, and others are working. The combined strength of these workers are around 3.5 lakhs who are also not paid well. Most of them have also been deprived of any social securities, while at the same time other government staff disposing of the same work are paid heavy salaries and are covered with other social securities, added Himante in the press note issued.
Demands put up by BMS
While concluding, the trade union body demanded that the government immediately increase the salaries provided to Aanganwadi workers, helpers, block coordinators, Mid-day meal workers, and other health workers associated with the NHM. The trade union also asked the government to categorise scheme workers as ‘workers’ according to the recommendation of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) and provide them with social securities such as EPF, ESI, gratuity and pension.
The protest organised by the BMS concluded with the resolve that the government should immediately implement a fair promotion policy along with providing other facilities to the scheme workers as provided to other government staff, such as leaves, retirement benefits, accident cover, and other allowances.
It is to be noted that, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BMS is one of the largest trade union body of the Bharat, working tirelessly towards safeguarding the rights of organised and unorganised workers across the state. The trade union that was awarded the presidency of L20 summit under the recently concluded G20 held in Bharat came into existence in 1955 and was founded by Dantopanth Thengadi.
