Over one crore low-paid workers of Central government schemes like Anganwadi, Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist), Mid-Day Meals, and ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) will observe a day’s all-India strike on Wednesday in support of their demands for minimum wages and social security.

The workers’ action is being backed by 10 major Central trade unions – INTUC, AITUC, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.

According to a joint statement of the trade unions, the scheme workers, as they are called, deliver basic services of health, nutrition, education, etc., to the mass of the underprivileged population.
These workers are not recognised as workers and do not get minimum wages, nor do they have any social security benefits.

“In the name of ‘honorarium’ or ‘incentive’ they are paid a pittance as low as Rs 1000 per month for ten months a year in the case of mid day meal workers. The 45th Indian Labour Conference (ILC) recommended that these workers must be recognised as workers, must be paid minimum wages and given social security benefits including pension,” the statement said.

Various trade union federations of scheme workers have been conducting struggles, raising these demands independently and jointly. But neither the UPA nor the NDA government was ready to implement the ILC recommendations, the unions said.

Moreover, the Modi-led NDA government is moving towards “winding up” the crucial schemes such as ICDS, NHM and Mid Day Meals Scheme by drastic budget cuts and structural changes, including privatisation of the schemes involving corporate and corporate NGOs, they said.

Beneficiaries are being excluded in the name of linking of Aadhaar and bank accounts, the unions said. The government is introducing conditional cash transfers in place of universal services of crucial schemes including the ones which ensure food security. In spite of repeated demand by the central trade unions, the government is going ahead with moves to “dismantle” the schemes, the unions alleged.

Planning a protest procession during the strike here, the Scheme workers are demanding, among other issues, the 45th ILC recommendations’ implementation; recognition as workers, minimum wages not less than Rs.18,000 per month and social security including monthly pension not less than Rs.3000 to all scheme workers, besides coverage of EPF and ESI.