The National labour Day was observed on last Sunday at Rayagada in the presence of thousands of workers belonging to agricultural and construction sectors, Anganwadi workers, ASHA Karmis, members of the Swabalambi Karigar Sangha, the Pachika Sangha, the Utkal Alumina Mazdoor Union, the IMFA Contract labour Union, the Construction Workers Union, the Agricultural Workers Union, the Vendors Union, etc. District president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha(BMS) Jogeswar Dash presided over the function and called upon all organised and un-organised labourers of the district to unite to resist the injustices meted out them and exploitation by the employers in a peaceful and non-violent way.
Inaugurating the function as well as Viswakarma Jayanti celebration as chief guest, Badal Kumar Tah, a senior scribe and social worker, expressed concerns over the plights of both the organized and unorganized workers. He cited various problems of the ASHAs and Anganwadi workers and the helpers.
“The percentage of unorganised workers in the country is around 95 per cent. We have several schemes for construction workers after getting registered with the department like children’s education, marriage, insurance, medical benefit, etc.
This awareness should be spread among the rural mass where a majo chunk of unorganized workers reside,” said Assistant labour Officer, Rayagada, Chhotarai Tudu.
Bidulata Huika, Ombudsman, MGNREGA of Rayagada district, elaborated on different facets of exploitati n of labourers working in MGNREGA.
Narasingha Nath Padhi, a senior journalist of the district, Basudev Patra, president of BMS’s District Retired Govt Employees Association, Jayanti Padmalaya Sahu among others also spoke. Khageswar Singh, Satya Nrayan Sahu, KK Jena, Deepak Kumar Prusty, Ananda Raulo and Pratap Puala were present.
Usha Rani Dash extended vote of thanks.