Hyderabad: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Congress government in Telangana had fulfilled its promise to support gig workers by providing social security measures, insurance coverage and rest facilities.
Addressing a gathering of gig workers, Gandhi said he was aware of the difficulties they faced. He said he, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Congress had earlier promised to stand by gig workers and had honoured that commitment.
Gandhi said India lacked comprehensive data on gig workers, including the time taken for deliveries and payments received for each assignment. He said workers carried out deliveries without having access to information relating to their own work.
He said the Telangana government was working to make information on earnings from each delivery available to gig workers.
Referring to their working conditions, Gandhi said delivery workers travelled on motorcycles in high temperatures across Telangana's cities without adequate rest facilities. He said the state government had constructed rest houses in Hyderabad and other cities to address the issue.
Gandhi said the government was providing insurance benefits of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh to gig workers. He also said workers would receive pensions and other welfare benefits.
He said one per cent of the value of every delivery and transport transaction would be transferred to the Gig Workers' Welfare Board, from which the funds would be disbursed to workers' accounts.
Drawing a distinction between the approaches of the Congress and the BJP-RSS towards gig workers, Gandhi alleged that the BJP and RSS favoured a system in which workers were required to work long hours while the benefits of their labour went to industrialists such as Adani and Ambani.
He said the Congress regarded gig workers as partners in the country's development and believed they should receive protection, adequate rest and a share of the earnings generated through their work.
Gandhi also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach towards gig workers, alleging that it denied them their rightful benefits.
Gandhi assured the workers that the Congress would continue to stand by them and protect their interests.
Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy affirmed that the Gig Workers Act would be implemented under the guidance of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Chief Minister said the government had already established the Gig Workers' Welfare Board and was providing insurance coverage to gig workers. He said it was a moment of pride that the promise made by Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Telangana had been fulfilled.
Recalling Gandhi's 4,000-km padyatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Revanth Reddy said the Congress leader had gained firsthand knowledge of the hardships faced by the poor.
During the yatra in Hyderabad, gig workers met Gandhi and shared the difficulties and challenges they faced in their profession. Gandhi had promised that if the Congress came to power in Telangana, it would enact legislation to protect gig workers, the Chief Minister said.
Stating that members of the Gandhi family had always honoured their commitments and made sacrifices for the country, Revanth Reddy said the Telangana government was providing accident insurance coverage to gig workers and had also enhanced the coverage limit under the Aarogyasri health scheme to Rs 10 lakh.
The Chief Minister said the state government had enacted legislation under Rahul Gandhi's guidance to provide comprehensive protection to gig workers. He assured them that the government would continue to stand firmly by their side and extend all possible support.
Revanth Reddy also expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi on behalf of gig workers.