Workers to Modi Govt: ‘Employment Is Our Fundamental Right’

Workers from informal sector are demanding that the Modi govt bring in a new law that can ensure permanent jobs.

Workers from the informal sector are demanding that the Modi govt should bring in a new law that can ensure permanent jobs.

(Photo: Ankita Das/ The Quint)

Video Editor: Md Ibrahim

Camera: Akanksha Kumar

When the entire country was celebrating Ram Navami on 25 March, people representing India’s informal sector participated in a march to the Parliament with placards having slogans such as ‘Education and employment is my birth right’. All of them think that a new law, the Bhagat Singh National Employment Guarantee Act (BSNEGA), will get rid of their misery.

The slogan ‘Sabko shiksha, sabko kaam, warna hogi neend haram (ensure education and employment else you will lose your sleep)’ echoed as the procession tried to warn politicians not to ignore the problem of job scarcity in an election year.

BJP’s ‘Hollow’ Promise of 1 Crore Jobs

In 2013, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had promised that his government would create 1 crore jobs every year if voted to power. Workers and those who are unemployed are now asking the government where are those jobs. For a party that came to power on the promise of acche din, employment could emerge as a hurdle ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The campaign asking for the Right to Employment includes the following charter of demands:

• Provide permanent employment at the level of village as well as city and provide minimum unemployment allowance of Rs 10,000 per month.
• Expand the scope of MGNREGA from 100 days to 365 days and ensure timely payment.
• Contractual labour should be abolished.
• Include the ‘Right to Employment’ as part of fundamental rights.
• Fill vacant posts at the level of Centre as well as the states with immediate effect and ensure timely appointments.

After making a noise in Delhi, the demand for Right To Employment may echo in other states as well. The question however is if rights-based entitlements are enough ensure job security for all. Experts believe that fixing accountability of institutions at the village-level will go a long way in ensuring that equal opportunities are available to all. Read the complete story here: Workers to Govt: Give Us Right to Employment, or You’ll Lose Sleep

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