Social Equity Watch

The Nomadic and Denotified Tribes celebrate #VimuktiDivas today, August 31. As they celebrate their rich #heritage and #traditions, and reflect on their current struggles and plight, do join in from 11am for multiple sessions. Zoom Id: 837 6086 8320. Password: 12345

Even in extreme forms of capitalism, neoliberals would say at least in #healthcare, goverment regulations are necessary. It is important to bring back these debates as the situation becomes grim, says @pradeep2004

There is no magic wand. What is needed is #alliances and #solidarity with #tradeunions, #studentmovements, #peoplemovements. Rights are being violated with impunity. #humanrightsdefenders implicated in false cases. Only alternative is for us 2 come together and highlight issues

Amita Joseph closes: #COVID19 has only highlighted gaps. Non-implementation of #labourlaws, ignoring #occupationalhealthsafety measures, business-govt nexus. Voluntary guidelines will not work in India. We need to follow Ambedkar's call to educate, organise, agitate for rights.

Looming questions on how to hold #businesses #aacountable to people, how to hold #government accountable to #citizens? High time government systems ensure #HumanRights and take action.

In today's #webinar on #Business & #HumanRights, panelists spoke about a range of issues - #teaplantation workers, #gigeconomy, #environmental violations in #Loktak, #HospitalPoliticianNexus, #transmissionlines impact on #agriculture, #violatingcorporates like #Sterlite

Raises the #Government #Hospital nexus, says politicians and kin who own hospitals resist any action, despite thousands of complaints. "If you have money, you will be alive. If you don't luck will determine if you will be alive or dead. First time, I felt so powerless"

How will drivers pay Rs 20-25000 for #insurance? My id was locked as I was unable to pay insurance. There is already pressure on paying back #EMIs. Business is down, #Tourism is down. How will we pay EMIs, when we can't pay fees. EMIs should be claimed only next year.

Our complaint with Centre is that they are also supporting these #aggregator - Drivers r being asked 4 newer cars by companies. Government turns blind eye at these tactics of #gigeconomy companies. We invested much, but not getting returns. We were given false promises by #cos

Syed Zakir Hussain talks abt challenges of #drivers of #aggregators. Our complaint is there with @Olacabs and @Uber, but with government at Centre and state, too. He says even b4 #COVID_19, we were charged hefty #commission. Even during #lockdown, we had to pay 25% commission

Almost 80% of #children of #plantationworkers studies impacted as they don't hv #smartphones. There has rarely been #sanitization process. In #workers quarters no #sanitation. No #drinkingwater, no proper #drainage. Nowhere in tea gardens is #minimumwageact followed

There is no proper facility for #pregnant women, there is a small facility in the tea garden mostly for primary #healthcare services. In height of #COVID19, workers had to risk lives to demand wages. Got mask just once. No #PhysicalDistance. No other safety measures.

Rustom Kujur, All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA), who lives in #teaplantation in #Dibrugarh #Assam says during #complete #lockdown, #teagarden #workers did not receive #wages. They got only Rs 500 fm #govt. and Rs 500 fm #company, not even in every tea garden

We have filed a petition at #HighCourt to conserve remaining biomass after which an interim order was issued and it is being protected. The project is impacting lives of children. All our stuff- fishing equipment, were being burnt in the name of #clearance.

Oinam Rajen fm #Loktak says, in #Manipur projects are introduced in name of development. One #Hydroelectricty project has violated #environment regulations. #Waterway project is going to be implemented by @shipmin_india but it affects #biodiversity and #livelihood of #fishing

We requested the companies to pay a min amount to help the workers.They started their work under the pretext of emergency services but at lowered despite fuel price hikes. #People should stand up fro our rights @Connect_IFAT @ShaikTgfwda @praxis_india

Dharmendra Vaishnav says most #appbased #workers have lost hope from #government as well as #companies. We are struggling for a life of dignity for the #delivery #workers. They hardly take home Rs 300 a day. There is an #insurance scheme for workers, but this not always provided

So many @swiggy_in @dunzo @zomato drivers / workers have had their vehicles stolen and themselves attacked. Many #aggregator companies got donations in names of #workers, but did not provide them any support. 90% workers suffered though they operated as #EssentialServices

Dharmendra Vaishnav of Indian Delivery Lions and @Connect_IFAT recounts challenges of #gigworkers. While every document of a diver is taken, customers don't have to complete even their #KYC. There have been so many incidents of attacks on @olac and @Uber drivers. Nobody cares.