[Reader-list] Wastepickers Groups Endorse Demands on Social Security

[Kabir Khan]

*Wastepickers Groups Endorse Demands on Social Security
<http://wastenarratives.com/2016/02/15/wastepickers-groups-endorse-demands-on-social-security/>*

*DEMANDS REGARDING PROVISION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMMES IN THE
FORTHCOMING BUDGET*

In past a similar post
<http://wastenarratives.com/2016/02/01/demands-regarding-provision-for-social-security-programmes-in-the-forthcoming-budget/>
was published on the blog, that had the demands in brief. Note here
explains them all.

The campaign acknowledges that the NDA government has recognised the need
to provide a comprehensive social security cover to all unorganised workers
and has initiated a number of schemes. This has been also embedded in the 2
nd Labour commission [2002] constituted during NDA I, which had
categorically recognised the need for a universal social security system
implemented through single window system.

However, we would like to reiterate that social security is a right and its
provision must be justiciable. We urge the government to make adequate
financial provision in the forthcoming budget to finance a universal [with
exclusion criteria] non-contributory individual worker based ‘social
security scheme’ for all informal workers, including unpaid women workers,
who do not have social security cover. *The campaign holds the view that
contributory social security schemes (based on workers' contribution, or
contribution by states should be treated as add-ons and should not form the
core of the social security programme. *

The campaign demands that the universal social security schemes should have
the following features:

   1. *Old Age protection.* All old aged persons (men and women), widows
   and physically/challenged persons, not under a formal social security
   cover, should be provided with a pension which is at the level of half of
   the national minimum wage. The age of eligibility for pension must be
   revised to 50 years for women and 55 years for men in the informal sector.
   Within this, special relaxation must be made for the particularly
   vulnerable workers in various occupations and social groups.
   2. 2*. Health & Maternity*. The universal health package should be made
   available through the public health system and should cover OPD and
   Diagnostics. Women must be unconditionally entitled to a maternity benefit
   for nine months (3 months before delivery and 6 months after delivery) at
   an amount not less than half the minimum wage.
   3. 3*. Life and Disability cover:* Workers must be provided an insurance
   of Rs 100,000 for death by natural causes and Rs 200,000 for death due to
   accidents. This should be along the lines of the provisions of the
   Construction Workers Welfare Board. Continued here...
   <http://wastenarratives.com/2016/02/15/wastepickers-groups-endorse-demands-on-social-security/>



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