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Cab drivers demand safety security code from Ola

Tue, 31 May 2022 18:25:01 +0000

Image Courtesy:trak.in

Maharashtra App-based Transport Workers’ Union (MAT) members on May 31, 2022 demanded the implementation of a social security code for private cab drivers in Ola and Uber companies. Failing this, it demanded that the companies cease their work, at least in Maharashtra.

After the recent murder of Ola driver Muhammad Ali in Diva in late May 2022, the driver community is united and up in arms. While the union thanked the Shil Daighar police station on Tuesday for the speedy arrest of five accused in the murder, it still condemned the company for trying to ‘flash’ the driver’s records.

What is flashing?

Flashing is when the company deletes ride-details and the number of rides taken up by an employee. Doing so often leaves a blank record on driver performances and can lead to some people getting blacklisted. In Muhammad Ali’s case as well, the driver’s records were flashed even though the youth had taken up 3-4 rides that day.

Here, MAT President Sawardekar said the union successfully got a record of his work before it was flashed. This information was submitted to the police as well for finding the accused. According to the union, this tactic is often used by cab companies, be it Ola or Uber, allegedly to claim that the person was not working for the company when a certain incident occurred. This also affects employee compensation.

“As per the accidental insurance assured by Ola, drivers must get ₹ 5 lakh in case of an accident. Here, there was a murder, so they will need to pay much more,” said Sawardekar.

However, he remains sceptical on whether the company will cooperate. He recalled how a Mumbra driver Asif died in an accident in Andheri. The MAT union provided the required documents to the company, yet the family is yet to receive the insurance.

Accordingly, Sawardekar called for a strict investigation against Ola and Uber companies for tampering with details. A crowd of nearly 200 people assembled outside the police station in support of this.

What about driver safety?

Central Line Zone Union leader and MAT member Haider Ali Siddiqui said that the recent incident in Diva highlights the fact that drivers do not have any security.

“When it comes to our security neither Ola, nor the police, nor the government takes responsibility. Our PVC, face id and contact details are given to the customer. We do not know if the administration will stand with us. But people must understand that a driver’s life is as important as any other. We ask the government, authorities and the companies in particular, what compensation do you have for us?” he asked.

In Ali’s case, he demanded that the company take responsibility for the compensation. Further, he said that if a driver dies on-duty the companies should provide enough compensation to sustain their children’s welfare for the near-future.

Ali was attacked and assaulted by his drunken customers. However, Ali had no means of sending a distress signal. Union leaders said that unlike the customer SOS signal, the driver’s distress button does not work. Locals claim that this is the fifth incident where a driver – be it a cab driver or an autorickshaw driver – was attacked or murdered.

The lack of an SOS signal or flashing are not the only problems. Other drivers at the protest spoke about how the Ola company does not raise complaint numbers. Instead it asks drivers to note down the time of the complaint. When the drivers enquire after 15 days, they are told there is no data of such grievances.

MAT Treasurer Kiran Anand spoke about how he had a rental booking from Navi Mumbai to Virar. At night, the client completed the ride and the fare had reached around ₹3,350. The client claimed to have paid Ola money when the system showed cash.

On contacting Ola, Anand was advised to drop the ride. However, when he approached the Ola office, he was told that the trip was void even though the company had taken a commission of ₹ 1,500. He only got the money when he approached Sawardekar and the process of unionisation began.

To ensure justice, on Tuesday afternoon, several Union (MATT) representatives met with senior police officers from Kalwa Division ACP Venkat Andhale promised to flag the issue of the murdered Ola taxi driver being on duty with the company when he was attacked and done away with. Police investigations have clearly revealed that the victim was working on the day of the attack because the accused (who had been arrested yesterday) had booked a ride. The MAT will soon approach the labour department and other government authorities with a sustained campaign calling for a security code of drivers in general and reparation for the slain , Muhammad Ali. Failing this, Sawardekar said an agitation and protest will be organised that will also demand due compensation for Ali’s family. Ali hailed from Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Listen to driver Mohammad Kaifi with six years of experience talk about qorkers’ concerns about the lack of safety.

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UP: Anganwadi workers demand payment for election duties

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 13:12:00 +0000

The third phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly election polling took place on February 20, 2022. This time polling was conducted in many Scheduled Caste (SC) dominant constituencies including Hathras, where an adolescent girl was sexually assaulted by many dominant-caste men. With nearly 60 constituencies spread across 16 districts, workers on election duty had their work cut out for this crucial phase of state elections. Yet, anganwadi workers told SabrangIndia that they received no remuneration for their work. This includes workers who gave their time and labour during earlier polling days as well.

Workers in Ward 1 of Hathras district were unhappy with the short notice for their election duty. One Anganwadi worker (who did not want to be named) said they were informed about their work a day before they were called for training. The women were told they were listed for polling duty and asked to arrive in the respective training location with photos for their identification documents.

“I worked from around 6 AM to 6 PM, checking people’s temperature and making sure they sanitised themselves before entering the polling area,” said the worker. She said that they were instructed by the health department to do the work although they did not receive any intimation about payment for their labour.

Similarly, anganwadi workers said they were not reimbursed or paid for travelling across constituencies to do their work. The woman speaking to SabrangIndia said that these troubled workers were employed within their constituency as well because they still had to walk to the polling areas and leave behind dependents like their children and elderly. More than anything, the worker expressed anger at how anganwadi workers’ work went unacknowledged, not even getting water or food unlike other polling officers.

“The teachers had tiffins arranged for them. Even CRP officers had tiffins or food but we did not. On top of that, for all this, we are not even being paid,” she said, asking, “In the first place, we deal with the ICDS, so why are we made to engage in government work?”

Under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Anganwadi workers ensure the nutrition, health and overall development of children until the age of six years and pregnant women. During the pandemic, they were also in-charge of ensuring that families received their ration. During election season, workers were forced to turn their attention towards polling duties instead.

According to Mahila Anganwadi Karamchari Sangh (MAKS) member Dr. Veena Gupta, such complaints have flared up from every Anganwadi community where polling took place.

“Nobody has been paid for their work in UP. The administrations did not even bother covering the travel expenses of those people who had to work outside their constituencies. Some workers complained that they missed their chance to vote because of this,” said Gupta.

She also lamented the demoralised state of Anganwadi workers who did not challenge the added election work. Even when Unions tried to discourage them, workers still went to work, allegedly for fear of the current regime.

Meanwhile, another anganwadi worker (who did not want to be named) said she is still waiting for her election during payment despite working during the second phase of assembly election. Working at a polling area in Rampur, the worker said she was to receive only ₹670 for helping voters find their name in the concerned list. Having worked as an Anganwadi worker for nearly nine years, she said her community people never received proper food or travel services. However, she expected to receive her money nonetheless.She said, “Last time, we received around ₹700 for election work. This time it’s less than that, but we haven’t received that either. A person should be paid according to the work they have put in!”

The woman received around ₹6,000 for her work as a booth-level officer prior to the election. However, it still falls short when considering that she has not received her salary worth four months as an anganwadi worker.

“The last payment I received was in January worth two months of work. But more salary is still pending. In the first place, ₹1,500 for a month is too little. The government should revise our payment. At the most ₹18,000 a month will help us a lot,” she said.

Unions like the MAKS and others have written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as well as the Election Commission about workers’ grievances. However, with no response from either authorities, Gupta said that people remain unmotivated to voice their troubles further.

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Mamata Banerjee demands payment of arrears to farmers under central financial schemes

Thu, 06 May 2021 14:04:27 +0000

Image Courtesy:indiablooms.com

After taking charge once again as Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is not wasting any time. She has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminding him of unpaid amounts under financial assistance schemes to eligible farmers in the state.

Banerjee referred to her letter dated December 31, 2020, addressed to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in which she had asked for benefits provided under the PM-KISAN scheme to farmers in West Bengal. “Several communications were also made from the State Government, Department of Agriculture. However, no concrete response has yet been received from the Ministry on this,” she wrote.

Banerjee went on to list all steps taken by the state government to appoint necessary officials, open bank accounts, monitor registration of farmers for the scheme. She also mentioned efforts made under the state government’s Krishak Bandhu scheme which she said was better than the PM-KISAN scheme as it covered all farmers, while the Central scheme excluded share-croppers, self-declared farmers and others.

She also reminded him of his promises to release arrears that Modi made during election campaign rallies. Banerjee said, “I would further impress that during your recent visit to the state, you gave repeated assurances on releasing the arrear amount of Rs 18,000 to each farmer, but till date no fund has been received by the State of West Bengal or the farmers.”

Banerjee ended by asking Modi to direct the concerned Ministry to release funds due. The entire letter may be read here:

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Punjab creche workers announce dharna if state gov’t fails to pay dues

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:44:47 +0000

The Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development department could face dharnas soon unless creche workers and helpers receive honorarium within the next two weeks, said the All Punjab Anganwadi Employees Union on March 18, 2021.

President Hargobind Kaur met Director Vimmi Bhullar on Thursday, and said that members would protest outside the department office if the 200 or so creche employees are not paid in a fortnight’s time.

According to Kaur, workers and helpers have not been paid for the last two and a half years. As a result, it is becoming difficult for them to make ends meet. Further, she asked Bhullar that workers and helpers of eight blocks be paid rent and uniforms of anganwadi centres which have been pending for one year.

In response, Bhullar told her that pending bills have been passed to the finance department and will be received soon. Similarly, the file for honorarium of creche workers and helpers remains with finance officials. Once the department clears the file, workers will be paid.

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