Worst hit, casual workers in Delhi hope for govt help
Comes close on the heels of the UP govt announcing stipend to vendors, workers
nNEW DELHI: Till a week back, Vijay Kumar (54), a vegetable vendor, used to earn nearly ~600-700 daily. But ever since the Delhi government announced its decision to close weekly markets in the city because of Covid-19, Kumar said, he barely earns enough to feed his family of five.
“I have fixed clients in each weekly market. The sale was always good. But now, I have put up a stall in Laxmi Nagar. But I barely earn ~300 per day,” he said, as he hopes that the Delhi government will provide some financial assistance to street vendors just like the Uttar Pradesh government has done.
The UP government on Saturday announced that it will pay ~1,000 per month to daily wage workers, hawkers and street vendors, rickshaw pullers, and construction who have or might have might lose their jobs due to the epidemic.
This is expected to benefit around 3.5 million people. The move has led to labour unions and those working in the unorganised sector in the national capital demand the same.
Thaneshwar Adigaur, secretary of Delhi Asangathit Nirman Mazdoor Union and member of the Delhi Labour Welfare Board, said, “The Delhi government should provide some fixed financial assistance to daily wagers as they are the worst affected. Last year, there was a loss of work due to pollution and recently due to the riots in Delhi and now coronavirus. We are planning to meet the labour minister in this regard and request him to reconstitute the board immediately and pass an order to give financial assistance to daily wagers.”
On Saturday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, however, used a different approach to give relief to such workers.
Kejriwal said that every ration card-holder will get 50% extra supplies for the month of
April.
“The restrictions that are in place due to coronavirus are causing a terrible financial stress to the poor. Workers are not getting their daily wages and we don’t want anyone to sleep on an empty stomach. So, the Delhi government has decided to give a total of 7.5 kg of ration to every beneficiary and this will be totally free,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday tweeted that contract workers and daily wagers working with the government or government contractors will be paid salaries.
“Delhi government will give salary to all contract / daily wage employees/guest teachers etc. whose work has been closed (affected) due to Coronavirus (outbreak),” Sisodia said.
Adigaur said, “Those working in the informal sector should be paid some minimum amount too. Though ~1,000 which the UP government is paying to daily wagers is not enough, something is better than nothing.”
But officials in the labour department said there is no proposal in this regard. “We will discuss this with the chief minister. A decision in this regard will be taken after reviewing the situation,” said Gopal Rai, labour minister, Delhi government.
The Delhi government recently ordered shutting down of weekly markets, gyms, cinema halls, and malls and asked people to practice social distancing as a precautionary measure to slow down the spread of the contagious disease.
The impact of the epidemic is visible in the city’s markets, which wear a deserted look, as well as public spaces. The uncertainty among people in the informal sector is palpable. Small traders are reducing the staff strength and daily wagers not getting enough work.
People employed in the informal sector are facing the maximum brunt of the economic slowdown triggered by the Coronavirus scare.
Adigaur said the Delhi Labour Welfare Board and the Delhi Construction Workers’
Welfare Board, both under the state government, should step in.
“The funds are for the welfare of the labourers and should be used right now. It is an emergency situation and the state government should come out and help its people.”
In Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s biggest wholesale markets, the business is down by 40%.
Sanjay Bhargava, president of Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, said, “The footfall in the heritage market has come down to 50-60% and the worst affected are the daily wagers involved in loading and unloading of goods.”
Bhola Sharma, 60, a daily-wager who works in the market, said: “There is a rumour in the market that it is going to close. There is not enough work these days. I haven’t got any work since morning.”
Rakesh, who is part of the association of daily wagers said, “Daily wagers who work in wholesale markets such as Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar don’t have much work. All of them have families to feed. It is difficult for them. The Delhi government should do something for this sector.”
The government’s decision to discontinue weekly markets has left street vendors with no income to feed their families. Arbind Singh, national coordinator of the National Street Vendors Association of India, said, “It is a direct hit to the livelihood of lakhs of street vendors, who depend on daily earnings. We are going to take up the issue with the government.”
The government, Singh said, has been doing little to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
“The Act mandates to conduct a survey of the street vendors and provide them space. In times of crisis, the government should help the vendors,” he added.