Scheme workers (Workers employed under various Schemes of the Government) including ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activities) Workers, Mid-Day Meal (MDM), Anganwadi, National Health Mission(NHM), Samagra Shiksha Workers and Para-Teachers had called for All India Strike on August 7th and 8th.
They have also called for Satyagraha/Jail Bharo Program on August 9th. Around Six Lakh workers across the country affiliated with Central Trade Unions (INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC) are on strike since yesterday demanding the fulfillment of their 15 demands.
Many of these Scheme Workers serve as front-line workers (Corona Warriors) in the turbulent times of the Coronavirus outbreak. Despite innumerable pleas and requests to the government, their demands have not been acknowledged let alone addressed. For over four months now, they demanded that they are provided the bare minimum requirement of safety, insurance, and risk allowances to undertake their work with a sense of dignity and security. Even though many workers have succumbed to death owing to the lack of protective equipment and systems in place, the government has not tried addressing their issues. Even at the peaks of the Covid-19 pandemic, they haven’t been paid their salary regularly.
Workers from Delhi, Haryana, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, karnataka are among the states that have gone on strike.
Yesterday AICCTU protested outside the Lady Hardinge Medical College campus on the issues of contract workers working in the health sector.
Contract employees said that union Government cannot #FOOL us with flowers.@PMOIndia @narendramodi @HMOIndia @DrHVoffice @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/uqj8ALEoVO
— AICCTU Delhi (@AICCTU_tweets) August 8, 2020
#AshaStrikeInBihar
बिहार में 6-9 अगस्त 4 दिवसीय शुरू हो गयी।
बीना वेतन के कब तक काम करेगी आशा कार्यकर्ता । pic.twitter.com/QpUFpPMAJK— shashi yadav (@ShashiY69) August 6, 2020
Major demands of the Scheme Workers-
The sea of red is #ASHA workers in #Haryana who are protesting among other things against risibg attacks on them by the community.
At least 100 workers have been attacked. Govt of Harayana and the health dept has not taken any measures to ensure their safety, they say. pic.twitter.com/46PjNAgFYF
— BehanBox (@BehanBox) August 7, 2020
Speaking about the issue KV Bhat, noted that “In Karnataka, around 40000 ASHA Workers had undertaken a 20-day protest. They had also called for Seizing the Chief Minister’s Residence on 29th July. However, on 28th July evening, CM BS Yeddyurappa along with B Sri Ramulu, State Minister for Health, and Family Welfare discussed the issue with the leaders of ASHA Workers and had assured that the State Government would look into the issue and that they would be resolved in the next week.
Many Scheme Workers also participated in the strike in Bangalore, Karnataka while adhering to the Physical distancing norms laid down by the World Health Organization. They protested yesterday near the Gandhi Statue at Maurya Circle and have submitted their Charter of Demand to the Governor of the State, Vajubhai Vala.
One of their main demand is a minimum wage of Rs 21,000/month, Rs 10,000/month pension & safety gear for frontline workers.
Several Trade Unions in Karnataka has called for Save India Campaign on 10th August 2020 in the backdrop of Quit India Day being celebrated on 9th August. It includes the Joint Committee of Trade Union (JCTU – Karnataka), JCTU with 10 Member Unions of Workers including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, TUCC, HMKP, GATWU and NCL have called for the campaign on 10th August 2020 with 10 demands in place.
‘Save India’ Campaign is a continuous struggle of Farmers, Agricultural Labourers, Women, Students, Youth, and other Secular and Democratic Forces of the Country. They have also requested all workers to join in solidarity and spirit for the All India Protest to be organized in September as well.