International Labour Day Uplifting the living Standard of Workers

HAROON RASHID BHAT

International Workers Day is also known as the Labour Day  or May Day is celebrated annually on 1st  May to focus on the rights and opportunities of every labour which they should get for their own welfare and betterment. This particular day also highlights the significant role  of the working class in the overall development of the human society . Events are organized  across the globe, but unfortunately, there are no celebrations on 1st  May-2020. The reason is known to every one. Yes, the mysterious situation that emerged due to the outbreak of COVID- 19. The story of labours day began with the rise  of industrialization and with a  passage of time new terms got associated with it like urbanization, migration , exploitation, etc. So far as the internal migration of labours is concerned in a country like India, it always remains an interesting field of study for sociologists who are highlighting social issues labours  like their livelihood, safety, security etc. According to various sociological research reports, it has come  in a public domain that this particular class, mostly belongs to rural areas of India where there are low job opportunities that too are available at very low rates. The Centre government in collaboration with the states launched various development schemes like NREGA, NRM etc. with a prime focus to develop the rural areas and to provide the employment at the local level so that this mass migration of labours can be minimized to a large extent. But the ground realities is that this migration process showed an  increased trend  by each passing day. Now, we have to accept this fact that this phenomenon of migration neither can be stopped fully nor their role can be underestimated as the front runners in the development of the state’s economy and infrastructure. They   became the worst victims of the situation that emerged due to the outbreak of COVID- 19. Their stranded position not only confined their movement, but also put them in a deep distress and pain. Although, the concerned states and a few  NGO’s are doing a commendable job in facilitating them in this hour of need. However, these efforts can prove more fruitful if they know the exact number of migrant labours and their proper location.  Unfortunately, there is a complete ambiguity in the entire system neither the state where these workers are stranded know the exact figure of the migrant labors, nor the native states are aware about the exact figure of the migrated labours that lead a chaos and confusion in  the implementation of welfare measures.  It is high time to take a lesson from this situation and   develop the proper mechanism to address such problems in a systematic way in the future.  In this regard, following suggestion can prove very helpful.

1. Uplifting the living Standard of Workers:  The prime priority of any government must  be to rise the living stand of this working class and this is only possible when Centre or state, to enhance the wages of these workers who are working in different states or Centre run schemes so that their economic needs can be fulfilled at the local level.
2. Proper Registration in the Native States: Anyone who wishes to pursue any work outside of his native state must register himself/herself in their District Labor Office or Village or Zila or Graham Panchayat or in municipalities. ID proof along with a unique registration number linked through a special web portal Should be allotted in favor of the applicant so that his/her profile  can be accessed from anywhere.
3. Bank Account: The concerned office should ensure that a labor must have a bank account so that any timely direct transfer financial assistance given to him by the state or central reach to him/her  instantly during emergency situations.
4. Proper Enrollment/ Record: All the migrant labors must enroll himself/herself in the state where he/she is supposed to work. For this purpose, the states can utilize the services of Police Stations, Village Panchayats, Municipalities which may be convenient to a labor. Any migrant labour who wants to leave the station or place or change the location must intimate aforementioned office or communities, either to present himself physically there or to leave the message about his/ her departure so that the proper recorded  can be maintained.
5. Setting up the Cell : The states must set up 24×7 cell in their respective districts or Tehsil level to address the grievance of migrant labors so any issue pertaining their safety, security or livelihood, etc. can be addressed genially  and frequently
6. Framing of Laws: Strike laws should be framed to ensure that no labour remain unregistered. No individual or agency should be given liberty to  hire an unregistered labor or Labors either for a day’s work or for the specific period.
7. Proper implementation : Any initiative or process can yield the desirable results when implemented effectively so, it is imperative to all the stakeholders be it the central or state governments or a labor himself, they all  have to play a dynamic and honest role.
8. Mass awareness: last but not the least, there is a need to spread mass awareness among the labor class about their rights, duties or the importance of registration so that the any timely initiative taken by the center or state during the emergency situations can run smoothly and systematically.

Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher- Zone, Ganderbal can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com