New Delhi: The worker class, who has just his labour to sell, and no assets or savings to fall back on, will be the hardest hit during the current economic crisis. They did not make much when the going was good, barely managing to survive.
According to the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, 823 mn people are vulnerable to the changing tide in the economy and they have certain recommendations for the government.
- To set up a Rs 500 cr National Fund for Unorganised Sector.
- Introduce an Urban Employment Guarantee Programme.
- Remove the 100 day-ceiling from the rural employment guarantee programme.
- Expand Social Security to cover all unorganised workers, and not just people the poverty line.
- A Special package worth 5000 crore rupees for Small and Marginal Farmers
- Most importantly, enhance pro-poor investments.
"This is the minimum we are asking for, the least that the government could do," says Member, NCEUS/ National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, Dr. Ravi S.Srivastava.
There is a unanimous opinion that the government has to protect the incomes of the poor and safeguard their livelihoods if we have to save our economy from slowing down further. In fact, as demand for good and services is drying up overseas, the same demand must be created from within.
The government has yet no clear figure as to how many people have lost their jobs and how deep is the crisis.
However, the government is all set to announce yet another stimulus package, but will one that focuses only on the informal economy find mention is the concern.
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