Re: [PMARC] Request to participate in the National Convention on Social Security for Unorganised Workers, January 8-10, 2010, Patna, Bihar

On Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 3:39 PM, tiwari <tiwari@cec-india.org> wrote:

December 11, 2009

                                   SOCIAL SECURITY NOW

 

 

 

Secretariat at: 173-A, Khirki Village, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110017

Tele: 011 29541858 / 29541841  Fax: 011 29545442

Email: tiwari@cec-india.org; Website: www.socialsecuritynow.org

 

 

 

 

To

………………………….

……………………………

 

Dear,

 

Subject: Request to participate in the National Convention on Social Security for Unorganised Workers, January 8-10, 2010, Patna, Bihar

 

As you are aware, the government of India passed the 'Unorganised Workers Social Security Act' (UWSSA) on December 17, 2008 for the benefit of about 423 million unorganised workers and their dependents. However, the UWSSA, 2008 has inherent structural gaps and inadequacies that make it totally ineffective. The Act does not define social security. Social security schemes are not included as part of the body of the Act, implying that they can be changed without discussion in the parliament, thereby denying the workers the benefit of consistency and justiceability. Unemployment and livelihood rights are not covered under the Act. It also dilutes the existing Acts such as the Maternity Benefit Act and the Workmens' Compensation Act. It does not universalize social security and does not have enabling provisions to empower those who have traditionally faced difficulty in exercising their rights such as the dalits, adivasis and women. The Act also has no financial memorandum attached to it.

 

The Act largely ignores the recommendations of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and undermines public opinion from SSN campaign, trade unions and other campaigns. This position has been vindicated in the criticism that has come from none other than the hon'ble Chief Justice of India in a meeting on July 13, 2009 in which the Union Minister for Labour and Union Minister for Law were also present.

 

The workers should be ensured old age pension, unemployment benefits and livelihood loss compensation, maternity benefit, accident and medical care. Apart from this workers should also be entitled to provident fund (PF) and employee state insurance (ESI) scheme. Comprehensive social security alone can offer some relief to the unorganised workers, especially when India is affected by the global economic crisis. Unorganized workers are severely hit by job losses, squeezing wages and increasing working hours. Rising prices of essential commodities have added to the problems.

 

It is in this context, the National Working Group (NWG) of SSN has decided to organise three-day National Convention on social security for unorganised workers from January 8-10, 2010 at Bihar Chamber of Commerce, Anta Ghat (Near Gandhi Maidan), Near Patna District Magistrate Office, Patna, Bihar.

 

Objectives of the convention are to facilitate the unorganised workers to articulate the problems they face in the absence of social security; for understanding  the inadequacies of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act (UWSSA) 2008; to demand comprehensive social security protection; to broaden the platform by bringing together key unorganised workers organisations, NGOs, networks, advocates, trade unions and civil society groups and to launch a movement for registration of the unorganised workers.

 

On day one the inaugural session will be addressed by distinguished persons including political and social activists. This will be followed by Mazdooron Ki Awaaz, where labourers from different parts of India will depose on issues related to social security before a panel of jury. On the second day there will be sessions addressing issues related to vulnerabilities of migrants, adivasis, dalits and women and financing social security fund. The programme will end on the third day with a rally and public meeting. This national convention intends to formulate both national and regional action plan for the Social Security Now campaign.

 

Considering your expertise and interest on the issue, we request you to kindly participate in the National Convention and enrich the discussions with your valuable inputs. Please find the programme schedule for the national convention attached for information.

 

Date: January 8-10, 2010

 

Venue: Bihar Chamber of Commerce, Anta Ghat (Near Gandhi Maidan), Near Patna District Magistrate Office, Patna, Bihar

 

We would be highly obliged if you accept our invitation and participate in the national convention.

 

Kindly send us your confirmation as soon as possible. Kindly fill up the registration form attached and send it to NIDAN, 3rd Floor, Sudama Bhavan, Boring Road, Patna, Bihar

Tel: 0612 2577589/ 2571702, Email: nidanpatna@rediffmail.com and also mark a copy to us.

 

In case you need any further information, please feel free to contact Urvashi Tilak: urvashi@cec-india.org, mob: 09811383320; Pallavi Mansingh: pallavi@cec-india.org, mob: 09868066195; Ranjan Kumar: nidanpatna@rediffmail.com, mob: 09835017165.

 

Thanking you,

 

In Solidarity

 

 

 

J John

For Social Security Now

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NB: Social Security Now (SSN) is a network of over 500 organisations from all over India campaigning towards the realisation of comprehensive social security for unorganised workers through a central legislation. The uniqueness of this campaign is the active involvement of dalit, adivasis and other socially disadvantaged groups, asserting that the social security is the legitimate right of all 'social classes' in India. A national convention has been called by Social Security Now (SSN) in Patna on January 8-10, 2010 to highlight these issues.

 

SSN National Working Group Members: Centre for Education and Communication (CEC); National Federation of Dalit Land Rights Movements (NFDLRM); Human Rights Law Network (HRLN); Foundation of Educational Innovations in Asia (FEDINA); National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR); Lok Sangharsh Morcha; Delhi Shramik Sangathan (DSS); Laya; Nirmala Niketan; Indian Social Institute (ISI); NIDAN; Programme on Women's Economic Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR); National Institute of Women Child and Youth Development (NIWCYD); Women's Voice; Bindrai Institute for Research Study and Action (BIRSA); Vigyan Foundation; Delhi Forum; Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA); National Campaign Committee for Unorganised Sector Workers (NCC – USW);National Hawkers Federation (NHF); Harit Recyclers Association (HRA); Uttar Pradesh Gramin Mazdoor Sangathan (UPGMS); Pragatishila Shramik Manch (PSM); CBCI Commission for Labour; Cornerstone Trust; Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (CECOEDECON);Jan Sangarsh Manch;National Forum on Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW).

 

 

• Programme Schedule.doc A - 35.5 KB, application/octet-stream
• Programme Schedule.doc - 35.5 KB, application/msword
• image001.jpg - 3.7 KB, image/jpeg
• registration .doc B - 287.5 KB, application/octet-stream
• registration .doc - 287.5 KB, application/msword

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