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UPSC SOCIOLOGY MAINS SYLLABUS
Paper 2 – C. Social Changes in India:
(i) Visions of Social Change in India:
a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
b) Constitution, law and social change.
c) Education and social change.
(iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:
a) Evolution of modern industry in India.
b) Growth of urban settlements in India.
c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
d) Informal sector, child labour.
e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas.
INTRODUCTION
Almost one crore scheme workers all over the country shoulder the burden of implementing several important public schemes of the central government on health and education. They include ASHA workers (working under National Rural Health Mission program), Anganvadi workers (working under ICDS program) and MDM workers (working under Mid Day Meal scheme for school children).
CONTEXT
In August 2020, four months into the pandemic, the Delhi police registered FIRs against 100 ASHA workers who were protesting against their abysmal service conditions. Two years later, the World Health Organisation named ASHA workers as one of the six recipients of the Global Health Leaders Award, in light of their contribution to global health. These scheme workers who deliver some of the most essential services to the nation are themselves at the receiving end of ruthless and cruel exploitation of their labour. Now, protests are more frequent as they are further marginalised despite the incredible work they do at the grassroot level.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SCHEME WORKERS
Scheme workers, simply by virtue of the kind of work they do, that of delivering rural healthcare, child nutrition, rural education, delivery of welfare benefits, are some of the most important workers of the Indian state. Under layers of politicians, bureaucrats and officers, it is these workers that deliver the promise of an egalitarian, welfare state to the footsteps of its most vulnerable citizens.
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RELEVANCE OF THE ISSUE
While there has been no shortage of awards, gratitude and plaudits to these workers, the incessant characterisation of these workers as “heroes” and of their work as “sacrifice” has only served to further isolate them from regularisation of their work. It is important to understand that this characterisation as community heroes is not just a matter of political rhetoric but that it is central to the legal structure that keeps scheme workers away from claims of regularisation.
GRIEVANCES OF SCHEME WORKERS
Their duties and responsibilities are defined but they are not treated as a government employee or a worker. They are neither paid legal minimum wages nor wages equal to their counterparts employed by the government, but a paltry amount in the name of honourarium or incentive. Such a huge number of scheme workers do not have access to social security facilities like EPF, ESI etc. Their long-standing demand of recognition as government employees with permanent positions have been ignored by both the Central and respective state governments. They are being called as “volunteers” implying “forced labour” that is prohibited by applicable labour laws.
THE BURDEN OF PANDEMIC ON SCHEME WORKERS
Since first wave of Corona in the country, the ASHAS and Anganvadi workers are playing the role of frontline health care workers. ASHA and Anganvadi workers are engaged in tracing Covid infected patients, door to door survey, mobilising people for vaccination and awareness campaigns to follow the Corona guidelines among common people in their respective areas of work. MDM cooks are engaged in cooking meals for Covid infected patients in quarantine centres across rural areas of the country. Many MDM cooks have also got infected while discharging their duty. Many of them have succumbed to Covid.
The frontline scheme workers are not being provided minimum safety kits like masks, gloves, sanitizer etc. Nor have they been given proper training to maintain personal safety while on duty during the pandemic.
No special wage or incentive or allowance has been sanctioned to these frontline scheme workers till now.
CONCLUSION
The state governments need to develop mechanisms for higher remuneration for Scheme Workers. Extending the benefits of social sector services including health insurance (for Scheme workers and their families) should be considered. Even though they contribute significantly to better social outcomes, the Scheme workforce continues to protest across the country, for better remuneration, health benefits and permanent posts. It is the duty of the governmental agencies that employ them to ensure their welfare, safety and security.