THE All India Convention on Scheme Workers’ Rights, held on September 24, at HKS Surjeet Bhawan in New Delhi, has resolved to organise parliamentary constituency-wise protests to highlight their demands and expose the anti-worker and anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA government. Anganwadi, ASHA, and mid day meal workers will organise a door-to-door campaign covering about 50 lakh households. The campaign seeks to expose the communal and pro-corporate nature of the NDA government.

The convention, organised jointly by the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH), ASHA Workers’ and Facilitators’ Federation of India (AWFFI), and Mid Day Meal Workers Federation of India (MDMWFI), demanded adequate budget allocations to strengthen schemes such as ICDS, NHM, and MDMS which offer basic services to the people. The convention also demanded the establishment of a separate pay commission for the  scheme workers operating under centrally sponsored schemes.

The convention was inaugurated by Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU. In his inaugural address, he explained how the central government's policies, which are anti-people, have adversely impacted various sections of the people while at the same time, they have enabled the amassing of national wealth by a few corporates. He called upon the workers to reach out to the masses through their village level contacts to defeat this anti-national government which is handing over the entire wealth of the nation to a handful of corporates.

The proceedings of the convention were conducted by a presidium, comprising Usharani, president of AIFAWH; Madhumita Bandopadhyaya, general secretary of AWFFI; and Krishna Roy Chatterjee, president of MDMWFI. The convention saw active participation from over 300 delegates representing 22 states and union territories, including Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The draft declaration was presented by AR Sindhu, secretary of CITU and general secretary of AIFAWH. The declaration outlined the systematic erosion of basic services schemes by the Modi government through budget reductions, privatisation, and targeting. Privatisation of these schemes is enforced through handing over of their responsibilities to corporate entities such as Vedanta, PepsiCo, and Patanjali, as well as corporate NGOs like ISKCON. This privatisation trend, under the guise of corporate social responsibility, has transformed welfare schemes into vehicles for tax evasion, regulatory relaxations, and profit generation for corporations, facilitated by an intricate nexus of corporate entities, bureaucrats, and leaders of the ruling political party.

The convention highlighted that women's unpaid work within households is being extended through these schemes, perpetuating stereotypical gender roles in care services within society. It was collectively decided to expose and challenge this antiquated, exploitative, feudal-ideology-based system of informal work within government schemes. The convention aims to build a strong movement for labour rights of scheme workers, with the rallying slogan "Care is Work."

This convention welcomed the Supreme Court's order acknowledging the entitlement of anganwadi workers and helpers to gratuity, along with directives for improving the working conditions and ensuring timely payments. In the broader spirit of this order, it may be applied to all scheme workers working under schemes that provide statutory benefits.

The convention noted the courageous efforts of scheme workers in various states and the severe repression unleashed by several right-wing governments.  The convention moved a resolution in support of the ongoing indefinite strike by ASHA workers in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.

24 delegates participated in the discussions on the declaration, sharing their experiences of struggles, achievements, and how they faced state repression. Usharani, Madhumita and Jaibhagwan spoke on behalf of AIFAWH, AWFFI and MDMWFI respectively. The declaration was adopted unanimously.

P Krishnaprasad, finance secretary of AIKS; Mariam Dhawale, general secretary of AIDWA; and Vikram Singh, joint secretary of AIAWU, extended greetings to the convention. AR Sindhu delivered the concluding remarks.

The convention reiterated the resolve of scheme workers to fight for their demands of regularisation, minimum wages and social security as well as the rights of the people to nutrition, health and education. It also decided to organise campaign against the communal venom spread by the corporate-communal nexus.

The convention adopted the following demands:

• Regularisation of all scheme workers and the provision of statutory benefits like those accorded to government employees.

• Pending regularisation, as per 45th ILC recommendations, scheme workers be paid a minimum wages of not less than Rs 26,000 per monthl. All social security measures, including a pension of Rs 10,000 per month, provident fund, ESI, gratuity, etc., should be provided.

• Implementation of the Supreme Court order concerning anganwadi workers.

• Constitute a Pay Commission for looking into the improvement of wages and service conditions of all scheme workers working under centrally sponsored schemes, alongside expediting the regularization process.

• ICDS, NHM and MDMS schemes which provide basic statutory entitlements to people must be universalised with a focus on quality and be made permanent. Ensure adequate budget allocations for the schemes.

• There should be uniform service rules for different categories of scheme workers in all the states.

• Stop NGOisation and privatisation of the schemes. Withdraw NEP -2020 and National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)

• Withdraw the four labour codes. Include Scheme workers under labour laws.

The convention also reiterated the charter of demands of AIFAWH, AWFFI and MDMWFI.

The convention resolved to implement the declaration and plan of action adopted by the all India convention of workers and farmers organised by the Platform of Central Trade Unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha on  August 24, 2023 at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.

This convention adopted the following programme of action:

1. October 3, 2023 - Black Day and WFTU Day of Action: On October 3, 2023, commemorating the anniversary of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre of farmers in 2021, and  observing the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Day of Action,  programmes to be held demanding the dismissal and prosecution of the alleged conspirator, the minister of state for home affairs, Ajay Mishra Teni. The participants will also voice their opposition against the repression of various struggles.

2. Day and Night Mahapadav Struggle (November 26-28, 2023): Day and night mahapadav struggle to be held in front of the Raj Bhawans from November 26 to 28, 2023.

3. ASHA Workers’ March to Parliament (October 30, 2023): A massive mobilisation to be undertaken for ASHA workers' march to parliament on October 30, 2023.

4. Campaign Against Anti-People Policies: A widespread campaign to be held among the people, employing various means such as jathas, rallies, and meetings, against the anti-people policies of the NDA government.

5. Door-to-Door Campaign (Visiting 50 Lakh Households): An extensive door-to-door campaign reaching out to 50 lakh households, against the policies of the Modi government.

6. Joint Conventions at Parliamentary Constituencies (October 2023): Joint conventions to be organised in every parliamentary constituency in October 2023. A charge sheet against NDA MPs to be presented.

7. Mass Mobilizations in Parliamentary Constituencies (December 2023): Mass mobilisations in each parliamentary constituency during December 2023, to exert pressure for the fulfillment of demands and to oust the Modi-led BJP government.

8. Joint Struggle by CTUs and SKM (December/January): Participation in the militant joint struggle organised by Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM)

Anganwadi, ASHA and MDM unions will organise joint meetings at state/district and local levels to plan the effective implementation of the joint campaign and actions.