Unorganised workers from different sectors in Rajasthan have come together to form their first-ever union to press for their rights for minimum wages, social security, monthly ration through public distribution system and implementation of law with the guarantee of 100 days of work in a year to each household.
Daily wage earners from rural areas, agricultural labourers, domestic workers and those engaged in construction and mining sectors assembled at Jawaja in Ajmer district to attend a general body meeting of the unorganised workers last week. Six districts of southern and south-western Rajasthan were represented at the meeting.
In the first election of the newly established union, former Harmada sarpanch Norti Bai, who has been in the forefront of the right to information campaign, was elected president. Among others, Magsaysay Award winner Auna Roy and social activist Nikhil Dey were present.
Labour movement leader Shankar Singh, who is co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), pointed out that more than half of the State's population comprised labourers who were not unorganised. “We remain silent even in major instances of injustice. The government officers, employees and political leaders earn extremely high salaries, whereas we don't even get ₹100 a day.”
Ms. Roy said the labourers and common people should come together to strengthen the rights which had they had gained after prolonged struggles. Despite the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act's (NREGA) provision for 100 days' employment in a year, the work and fair wages were being denied to the rural people, she said.
Mr. Dey affirmed that the new union would fight against the State government's drive for privatisation of education and healthcare services and demanded the release of NREGA wages, pensions and monthly rations.
He said the names of one crore people had been deleted from the public distribution system and social security pensions of 10 lakh people had been stopped across the State during the last two years.
In addition to the election of Ms. Norti Bai, an executive committee of the union was also formed with 12 representatives from five districts. Two activists were appointed divisional secretaries for Ajmer and Udaipur, while Kesar Singh Baghmal was elected the union's vice-president and Norat Mal the union's secretary.