Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time

Friday, January 22, 2010

SOCIAL SECURITY NOW

Secretariat at: 173-A, Khirki Village, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110017

Tele: 011 29541858 / 29541841 Fax: 011 29545442

Email: tiwari@cec-india.org; pallavi@cec-india.org;

Dear colleague,

Three-day National Convention on social security for unorganised workers held from January 8-10, 2010 at Bihar Chamber of Commerce, Anta Ghat (Near Gandhi Maidan), Patna, in Bihar sharpened our quest for comprehensive social security protection.

The convention aimed to facilitate the unorganised workers to articulate the problems they face in the absence of social security; to understand the inadequacies of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act (UWSSA) 2008; to demand comprehensive social security protection; to broaden platform by bringing together key unorganised workers organisations, NGOs, networks, advocates, trade unions and civil society groups and to launch a movement for registration of the unorganised workers.

The inaugural session was addressed by distinguished trade unionists, political and social activists. In the session on Mazdooron Ki Awaaz, labourers from different parts of India deposed on issues related to social security before a panel of jury. On the second day participants addressed issues related to vulnerabilities of migrants, adivasis, dalits and women and financing social security fund. There was a huge rally of workers with demands on umbrellas on the third day with a public meeting.

The national convention was attended by over 500 delegates including a large number of women delegates. The rally and public meeting on the day three mobilised over 2000 unorganised workers from in and around Patna. Women were mobilised in a large numbers for the rally. Participants were largely unorganised workers from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They included domestic workers, immigrants from Nepal, construction workers, beedi workers, agarbatti workers, mining workers, stone quarry workers, brick kiln workers, sex workers, transport workers, head load workers, hammal workers, weavers, agricultural workers, garment workers, hawkers, street vendors, rickshawpullers, washers, waste collectors, leather workers, bank deposit collectors, basket makers, minor forest produce collectors, forest workers, workers engaged in agriculture related and allied activities, cleaners and trolley workers. Central Trade Unions who were present during the three day convention included All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), United Trades Union Congress (UTUC) All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Trade Union Coordination Committee (TUCC) and Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA).

The National Convention concluded with a declaration that called for the launch of a national movement for universal and non-discriminatory social security for all people living and working in India with emphasis on social security for those who have been denied.

At the same time, we demanded that the factors that aggravate vulnerabilities of dalits, adivasis, migrants and women like the landlessness, displacement and non-recognition of self-hood should be addressed for social security to be meaningful.

We have decided to launch a national campaign demanding 5% of GDP to be allocated for social security, which is feasible and justified.

The brief report of the convention, Patna declaration and the News paper clippings are attached.

Patna Convention manifested a spirit of collaboration, collective but focussed thinking as well as debate with respect to the other. The outcome manifests a sense of purpose and a direction for the future. Most noteworthy was the participation of the unorganised workers from different states and sectors in the debates and discussion. nidan provided modest but comfortable logistical arrangements and all of us accepted the facilities with grace and poise.

Perhaps, the days we spent together at Patna will mark the beginning of a new mobilisation for a nondiscriminatory and non-targetted social security. We articulated that all those who are living and working in India have a right to receive social security because the wealth is generated by all.

The Patna Convention has ended with a lot of energy and a resolve to mobiise all those living and working in India to demand their inalienable right to social security.

Big tasks ahead!

Let us work towards this goal.

In Solidarity,

Dr. RS Tiwari

For SSN Secretariat