On Workers Education Day, Center for Child and Women Development (CCWD) and ActionAid Association organized a day-long programme on workers’ rights in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Held on September 16 in collaboration with Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development (under Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India), the meeting saw active participation of nearly 90 workers from organized as well as unorganized sectors. Ms. Sasmita Bhatta, Regional Director of Odisha under Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development and Mr. Subash Singh, Chairperson, Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (OB&OCWWB) graced the occasion.

Ms. Sasmita Bhatta shared about the Board’s regional operations and its efforts towards sensitizing workers on their rights and training them in their respective sectors. Mr. Subash Singh, during his address, urged the workers to access the various government schemes and entitlements meant for them and to inform authorities at the Board in case of any discrepancies or harassment faced. At this meeting, the industrial houses that have done exemplary work on the fronts of labour awareness and training were also felicitated.

While addressing the gathering, Debabrat Patra, Regional Manager, ActionAid Association’s Odisha Regional Office, stated that though a lot has been achieved through the efforts of Anasangathita Sramika Manch (a state-level collective of unorganized workers), a lot more needs to be done for the people dependent on the informal economy, particularly women, by providing them decent wages; safe and secure work conditions, including toilets; and other support in terms of social security, including health and education for them and their families. On this occasion, workers from the informal sector shared their experiences too and spoke about their need of recognition as labour, registration of women workers’ union, regulation of wages and work conditions, and their rights to social protection and dignity, besides safety and security at workplace.

We are pleased to share that we will be partnering with Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development for the regular capacity-building of members of Anasangathita Sramika Manch.