To,
Date: 25/03/2020
Shri Narendra Modi
Honorable Prime Minister
Government of India
New Delhi
Subject: Urgent request to setup a Rs 1,00,000 Caror Covid-19
Crisis Fund for Informal Sector
The informal sector is being worst hit by the drastic consequences of the COVID -19 pandemic. The informal sector workers constitute 93 % of the workforce and the backbone of the Indian economy . With Govt emphasis on social distancing and closure of markets ,it is urgent to take Policy initiatives to ensure that COVID -19 measures do not drive them towards destitution. Around 44 crores workers in the country are in occupation such as domestic workers, daily wage workers, construction workers, brick making workers, manual scavenging workers, home based workers ,entertainment industry workers, street vendors, auto rickshaw workers, auto goods carrier workers, service industry workers particularly food & hospitality sector, restaurant workers. gig economy workers like delivery boys, Ola &Uber drivers, waste picker workers, home based workers etc.
On behalf of the
AIUWC , we demand that :
The Central Government Task Force should create a Rs. 1,00,000 croresCOVID -19 CRISIS FUND FOR INFORMAL WORKERS with the following objectives
- Make available food requirements for three months to all informal workers.
- All holding BPL and APL cards should be given ‘Immediate cash transfer’ @ Rs 10,000 or minimum wages of one month.
- Workers enrolled in MGNREGA and agricultural workers should get an upfront payment for 50 days of minimum wages, along with @ Rs 10,000 or minimum wages of one month.
- Workers possessing ‘construction worker welfare board card’ should be given @ Rs 10,000 or minimum wages of one month.
- Street vendors possessing identity cards or licence for vending or surveyed, challaned, trained by NSDC& FSSAI, should be given @ 10,000 or minimum wages of one month.
- Daily wage workers/migrant workers, domestic workers, waste picker workers carrying any worker organisation card such as Trade Union, or CSO should be given @ 10,000 or minimum wages of one month.
- Auto rickshaw and tempo goods carrier workers possessing driving licence should be given @ 10,000 or minimum wages of one month.
- Along with cash, all the workers also need to be provided with safety gears
- Slum dwellers, majority of them working class, live in high density localities with poor sanitation, water shortages, and in proximity to sewage. These could become death traps and flash points for corona virus expansion. Immediate measures must also be taken to ensure sanitation and clean water provision in slums and low-income neighborhoods.
- Banks must proactively provide credit support to the informal sector
Thanking You
Arbind Singh
9910306625
Executive Director