Scheme based workers - the struggle for an identity

Context

• The central government employs millions of regular and contract workers who are recognised as government employees and are in the pay spectrum of the government.

• The government also employs several types of workers such as Anganwadi workers or AWWs (13,51,104 workers) and Anganwadi helpers or AWHs (9,22,522), Accredited Social Health Activists or ASHAs (10,52,322 workers), and Mid-Day-Meals workers or MDMWs (25,16,688) under The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme since 1975, the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and the mid-day meals day scheme.

• Put together, around 60 million workers work in government schemes.

• These schemes are those which carry out social and economic functions by taking care of children and lactating mothers and nutrition aspects.

• They are also a bridge between the community and the public health system, improving school enrolment and the nutritional health system.

• Though there has been much recognition of their work (by the Prime Minister and even the World Health Organization), these workers face hardship — they have been denied basic labour market rights such as workers’ status, minimum wages and social security.

• Three basic issues among others have affected scheme-based workers (SBW) — an identity as “workers” just like any government employee, minimum wages and social security.

• The government is concerned with the huge cost implications as the employment of Scheme Based Workers as government employees is set to grow as the population grows.

• It is not “applause” that they seek but “worker” status. It is an existential struggle. It is interesting to note that in both the traditional and modern (gig) sectors, workers are battling for their labour market “identities” as “workers” and earn “wages and not “honorarium”.

• It is not charity that they seek but a legitimate demand for “workers” status by dint of hard work over long hours.