Bhubaneswar: A two-day multi-stakeholder consultation focused on social security measures and wage campaigns for unorganised workers commenced at Hotel Stalwart Jajati in Bhubaneswar. The event was organised by ActionAid Association in collaboration with CCWD and Janajagaran Dadan Sangha, Bolangir.
The primary aim of this consultation was to strengthen the understanding of human rights defenders and worker collective leaders regarding labour laws and to promote the dignity of workers. This was highlighted by Sadasiv Swain, Secretary of CCWD, during his introductory address.
The first session of the event saw several key speakers providing insights into the ongoing challenges faced by unorganised workers. Notable speakers included Panchanan Kanungo, Former Finance Minister of Odisha, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, Director of Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education (Government of India), Professor Harekrushna Swain, Mahendra Kumar Parida, Member of Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and Social Security Board, and Ajaya Kumar Pradhan, Divisional Labour Commissioner of Khordha. Debabrata Patra, Associate Director of ActionAid Association, was also part of the session. The session was moderated by Ghasiram Panda.
The second session delved into crucial topics such as the Wage Code, Minimum Wages, and health rights for unorganised workers. Key panellists included Gouranga Chandra Mohapatra, State Convenor of Jana Swasthya Abhiyan, N. Narayan Reddy, Former MLA, Basanta Kumar Patra, Education Officer of Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education (Government of India), Pradipta Nayak, Leader of CPI(M), Columnist Dr. Santosh Kumar Mohapatra, and prominent journalist Sudarshan Chhotaray. The session aimed to provide clarity on existing laws and suggest measures to improve the welfare of unorganised workers, especially in terms of wages and healthcare access.
The third session, moderated by Murali Charan Das, Centre Coordinator of Bolangir, focused on the issues and challenges faced by unorganised workers in Odisha. Active participation was seen from Manas Ranjan Pradhan, HRD Bhubaneswar, representatives from Jana Jagaran Dadan Sangha, Bolangir, ASM leaders, and other leaders from various collectives and CHRDs. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for better representation and stronger policies to address the plight of unorganised workers.
The consultation marked a significant step towards creating awareness and fostering collaboration between various stakeholders to ensure the betterment of unorganised workers in Odisha. Participants agreed that strengthening social security systems and improving wage policies would be pivotal to achieving the goal of dignified livelihoods for the workforce in the unorganised sector.
