Country passing through toughest of times: Harsh Mander says in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: A district-level conference of migrant workers was held at Mahila Sabha Bhavan, Ambedkar Circle (Jyothi Circle), under the banner of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Dakshina Kannada District Committee.
The event, organised with the call to unite migrant workers and raise issues related to safety, dignity and justice, saw the participation of workers from different backgrounds. The poster of the programme carried the message: “Migrant Workers Are NOT Slaves, NOT Terrorists — They are Workers Who Came to Earn a Living!”
Addressing the gathering, social activist Harsh Mander said the country is passing through a difficult phase and alleged that unorganised workers are among those facing the most serious challenges.
He said that unorganised workers have been repeatedly affected by major policy decisions in recent years. Referring to demonetisation, he questioned its impact on workers who depend on daily earnings. He also spoke about the sudden announcement of the nationwide lockdown during COVID-19 with four hours’ notice, stating that a large number of people in the country live in single-room houses, making physical distancing difficult.
He pointed out that a majority of workers in India are part of the unorganised sector and depend on daily wages. According to him, when work was abruptly stopped during the lockdown, many workers were left without income or support.
Harsh Mander said he had approached the Supreme Court seeking directions that unorganised workers should receive wages during the lockdown period. He stated that the demand was not accepted and alleged that crores of workers were left without adequate assistance, forcing many to return to their native places under harsh conditions.
He further claimed that labour protections have weakened in recent years and said workers were given limited security under new legal changes.
Raising another concern, he said that in the past decade there has been an increasing trend of branding workers as “traitors” or “infiltrators”. He alleged that Muslim labourers in particular were being called “Bangladeshis” and “ghuspetis”. He argued that people migrate in search of livelihood and do not leave their homes without reason.
He said that the term “ghuspeti” suggests conspiracy against the country and added that such labels create fear among workers. Referring to statements made by political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and some Chief Ministers from the BJP, he said such language contributes to suspicion and division.
Harsh Mander also spoke about incidents where, following terror attacks in Kashmir, Muslim labourers in other parts of the country faced fear and hostility. He urged workers not to see such issues as affecting only one community.
He said that a worker’s primary identity is that of an Indian and a labourer, irrespective of religion. Calling for unity among workers across communities, he said injustice against any worker must be opposed collectively.
He urged the gathering to build solidarity among labourers and concluded his speech with a call to uphold the Constitution.
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Karnataka govt hints at increasing PHH ration card income limit
Bengaluru (PTI) The Karnataka government on Thursday indicated that it may hike the family income limit to obtain a Priority Households (PHH) ration card, considering rising costs.
Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao gave this indication in the Legislative Assembly, while replying to a question on behalf of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa. He was responding to a question by senior BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, during question hour.
"The current family annual income limit of Rs 1.20 lakh was fixed in 2017, it should certainly be accepted that the amount is less. From 2017, we are now in 2026. There is a need to revise this. It must be re-examined," said Rao, who previously served as Food and Civil Supplies Minister.
Noting that the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande, has recommended increasing the income limit to Rs 3 lakh, he said, "The department will look into this."
Raising the issue, Narayan stressed the need for higher income limits as the cost of living in Bengaluru had risen.
Replying to Narayan's statement that 50 per cent of the urban population should get PHH or Antyodaya cards, citing the Food Security Act, the minister said the act meant for the country as a whole, while it varies for states.
Karnataka has 1.24 crore households with PHH ration cards, Rao said. "The Centre has identified 1.09 crore eligible families in Karnataka. But the state has exceeded this by 15.8 lakh families. In some rural areas, 95 per cent of the population is covered."
He also highlighted cases where ineligible people have obtained the card.
"There is demand for this card as it is considered the basis for obtaining other benefits like medical and other things. They don't want it for obtaining ration, but for other benefits," he said.
