Former MP and trade union leader Dr RC Khuntia urged the State and Central Governments to make adequate budget provision if they want to properly execute the Social Security Code.
Fist the Government should identify and register the workers and assure financial requirement for the scheme which could be shared both by the States and Centre, said Dr Khuntia, while participating as a panelist in the Eastern Zone seminar organised by the ILO and IHD jointly.
In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare and social security is of paramount importance. Therefore, Dr Khuntia demanded that the Central Government must amend the Constitution to guarantee social security and healthcare to all the citizens as a fundamental right.
Professor Alekhanath Sharma and ILO South Asia Director MS Dagmar Waltor participated in the meeting and gave opening address.
Chief Secretary of Bihar Tipurari Saran gave inauguration speech while Bihar Forest and Environmental Secretary Dipak Kumar Singh presided. Officials from eastern Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, representatives of employers, West Bengal CITU secretary Debangan Mukharjee and 119 representatives participated in this meeting.