GOVERNMENT MUST PREPARE HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE FOR UNORGANIZED SECTOR: SUDHIR SHARMA

Dharamshala: “The unorganized sector has a major contribution to the Indian economy, the sector is the most affected during the time of the corona virus epidemic,” said All India Congress Committee Secretary and former Minister Sudhir Sharma. 
Sharma added, “It has become very difficult for millions of people to take care of themselves and their families in this period, if the proper steps are not being taken in time, the situation could become serious.”
Sudhir said that thinking of the people working in this category in the current era is becoming like “if virus does not kill me but hunger will kill us."  
Congress committee secretary said that under the Social Security Act 2008 (for the benefit of unorganized workers), a provision was made to ensure social security and welfare of the sector through the formulation of schemes by the Central and State Governments, but no concrete policy could be formulated on it. “The need of the hour is that immediate relief should be provided to this section which constitutes 95% of the employment,” he added.
Sharma said that people working in this field should be identified and special help should be given during the period of corona virus epidemic. We must also ensure that future employers register them online before employing them and this should be made a mandatory process. The government should cover all these families under the medical insurance scheme too, because now, their working conditions are not so favourable.
Sudhir Sharma said, “Funds should be transferred directly from the Covid Relief Fund to their accounts to provide relief to them during this epidemic.” There is a need to introduce a rate reduction assistance program for small and medium scale business and to send funds to the accounts of the poor under a universal basic income program.
He said, “Public authorities should have sufficient resources available at all levels to ensure that when such situations occur, we have sufficient resources to support life, as the livelihoods are lost when a lockdown occurs. If we do not implement strong policies then the welfare of such workers will hang in the balance.”