THE unplanned ‘lockdown’ unleashed by the Modi Government and complete failure of Central & most of the State Governments in providing relief to millions of workers, has caused famine-like situation for a sizeable population of the country. Workers stranded in states away from their home-states have even committed suicide because of lack of food and ration. This tells the truth about the hollow promises being made by PM Modi and Chief Ministers of different states including Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal. The precarious state of workers because of no employment, money or food is compelling them to take extreme steps. Many have undertaken arduous journeys on foot to their home-states while many desire to somehow reach their home-states despite curbs on travel. This is happening despite several million tons of buffer stocks, being available with Food Corporation of India (FCI). Government helplines and food distribution centres are falling short of providing relief to even a part of the working class and poor population. Factory owners, service sector establishments, IT & ITeS sector, Media houses – all strata of workers are being retrenched in the name of ‘lockdown’; this is happening despite PM’s loud requests to the employers and various circulars/ advisories from concerned ministries. Various states have asked their Labour Department officials to ensure that retrenchments or pay-cuts don’t take place during the lockdown period, but AICCTU has received distress mails and calls from various employees regarding terminations, forced leaves etc.
Delhi – India’s Capital Is Witnessing the Complete Failure of Governance
Even before Delhi could have overcome the trauma induced by communal violence against Muslim community in various parts of Delhi, the ‘lockdown’ announced by the Central Government without any planning, created much panic and distress among the poor and working class populations of Delhi. The Arvind Kejriwal led government has proven to be a big failure in the face of issues arising out of ‘lockdown’. Delhi Government led by the LG and the CM, has not been able to provide food to the people who are in dire need of it. Food centres are too few and faraway from working class areas, the food in insufficient and quality bad. Long queues outside such centres mean that the old, the children and the differently abled population face too many hardships, even if they somehow manage to reach the centres. The Delhi Police, notorious for its track record under the incumbent Home Minister, is freely wielding batons and hurling abuses on workers who are venturing out to feed themselves. The Delhi CM is often seen assuring migrant workers, who form the chunk of working class population in Delhi, but the truth is that many workers have been fired from their jobs, they are being harassed by police, are being denied rations, salaries and any kind of subsistence money. The Delhi CM, LG and Labour Minister have refused to engage in dialogues with Trade-Unions, which could have helped in reaching out to workers and ensuring better relief work. Letters from AICCTU to the Delhi Government have mostly fallen on deaf ears. The system of ‘registering’ with the help of Aadhar Card on a site provided by Delhi Government is a complete failure and perhaps defines the hollowness of Kejriwal’s loud promos on television. It requires a worker to access internet, have a smartphone, Aadhar card and adequate knowledge of computer/ smartphone usage – in order to get a temporary ration card. The site provided for the said purpose is down due to technical issues, something which has been repeatedly pointed out to Delhi Government. The Delhi Government must immediately withdraw all artificial criteria for providing ration and universalize the access to PDS. The monetary sum of five thousand rupees has only been provided to construction workers registered with the Delhi Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, from the board’s own fund. The total number of beneficiaries constitute hardly one to two percent of Delhi’s total workforce.
To add to the already bad situation, the inept handling of ‘Markaz Issue’ by the Delhi and Central Governments have caused communal tensions in various parts of the capital. Vendors and hawkers of essential commodities like fruits and vegetables are being targeted for being from Muslim community.
AICCTU demanded that the issue of workers and the poor be immediately addressed by the Central and State Governments. A ‘Migrant Worker Action Plan’ must be immediately formulated in consultation with Central Trade Unions and all FCI godowns be immediately opened-up for the people. Employers should not be allowed to retrench workers and do pay-cuts. Any attempts at communal polarization must be sternly dealt with and use of force against the hungry people of the country must be immediately stopped. AICCTU also demanded withdrawal of all cases against workers in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other places.
- Abhishek
