Speaking out for their rights

(Editor's note: This is a copy of article available at http://voxiitk.com/speaking-out-for-their-rights/)

It all began with the workers in the institute not getting the minimum wages specified by the government. Meetings were held, committees were put in place but the issue remained far from being resolved. This and a plethora of such problems were discussed in an open discussion session held as part of “Hamara Manch”, a platform devised by the workers to voice their concerns, organised on the 15th of April. Also present amongst the gathering were a few members of the faculty and some people from the student community . The motive of the meeting was to initiate a dialogue between the providers of services and the users which includes the faculty and the student community. The massive gathering was ample testimony to the growing dissatisfaction among the workers regarding the facilities provided to them and fear regarding their future. Representatives from various sections viz. construction workers, dhobis, rickshaw-wallahs, hawkers and mess workers voiced their concerns and blamed the administration for being indifferent to their grievances. Inadequate sanitary facilities , education and lack of a secure working environment were common issues causing disgruntlement among the workers. Moreover, the construction workers were annoyed by the fact that in a case where the contractor had violated the minimum wages law , the institute did not take note and offered the constructor another project, while the workers were thrown out for raising their voices. The dhobis were unhappy with the lack of proper sanitation facilities at the dhobi ghats and with instances of their children being refused admission into the Campus School. They were also concerned with the lack of uniformity in the various rates decided by the different hall HECs. Recent changes like the introduction of washing machines in the hostels have added to their plight. The rickshaw pullers were unhappy that they had not been allowed to hike their rates in accordance with inflation and that the tempo owners were trying to rob them of their business by picking up people from inside the campus. The hawkers were troubled by the incessant pestering by the SIS guards to move their carts and by the orders of the authorities to sell goods different from what they are accustomed to selling. The mess workers were concerned that they are being dealt an unfair hand as they have to serve a proportionately larger student group and they end up working more than is required according to the minimum wage norms. This is due to the fact that private messes do not have a shift system, which forces the workers to work for 16 hours a day . Moreover , their salaries are slashed in lieu of the food they get which is not even provided at times. The undertone of all the voices was that the authorities’ behaviour towards the workers had become highly apathetic. There were certain recommendations forthcoming from the “Sahakari Samiti” which for some time has been ensuring that the workers who are part of their cooperative get minimum wages and at times provides medical aid to the workers and their families using its own fund. After the presentation of their problems by various representatives and voicing of opinions by the faculty members present, the meeting summed up the discussion by putting certain demands (see below). Our take : We, sitting in the comfort of our rooms, have spent enough time thinking of the campus as over and above the tribulations of the world outside. As the student community and the faculty benefit a lot from the services provided by these workers, it is our responsibility to ensure that no injustice is meted out to them. There have been instances where student intervention has been of huge help like some time back in Hall 1, the mess secretary ensured that the daily wage workers also get to work in shifts so that they are not overburdened. It is up to the students to make sure that sections of the administration which do not realise the responsibility that comes along with their authority and which do not pay heed to their grievances should be brought to account for their lackadaisical attitude.

Demands by Workers:

• •  The dialogue between service providers and users should continue

  •  Proper dissemination of information should be ensured

  •  Proper representation should be accorded to workers on relevant

  • committees (Hall etc.)

  •  I-cards should be issued to the non-permanent workers as well

  •  Basic facilities – toilets, education, health benefits – should be

  • provided

  •  A secure working environment should be made available

Written by Ishan Mahajan for Vox Populi, April 2009