Farmers & Workers Unite for Basic Wages and Rights: A Call to End Inhumane Treatment

"We put in all the work, but we're not paid. There is no assurance that there will be money because there may not always be job. Then, how do we manage our families? We only ask for pay increases and additional vacation time. We work all day, most days. Are we not human beings," she asked.

The Swaminathan Commission's minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, the repeal of four labour codes, and increased employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were some of the demands raised by farmers and workers from a wide range of backgrounds during a large rally held on Wednesday at the Ramlila Maidan.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the Centre for India Trade Union (CITU), and the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), among others, were among the organizers of the protest, known as the "Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh" event. Participants in the event voiced their opposition to inflation and unemployment while calling for a minimum wage, and occasionally, chants would ring out. One said, "Who will bring revolution, India's workers and farmers. Another read, "Kaun layega inquilab, Bharat ke mazdoor kisaan." Abdul Rasheed (40) travelled all the way to Delhi for the demonstration from Shopian in Kashmir.

Rasheed, an apple farmer who has experienced "uncountable losses," claimed that the NH-44 was shut down by the authorities for 14 days. Even after they were ripe, we were unable to sell our crops. Selling apples came from Himachal Pradesh. The wholesale rates decreased after keeping them for such a long time. Whereas one carton could have been sold at Rs 1,000, we sold it for Rs 200–300." Rasheed joined the demonstration as a representative of the Apple Federation of India, one of the organization taking part.

"We have made an effort to unite all employees around a common platform so that their concerns will be on the ballot during the forthcoming elections. The agriculture laws have been reinstated by the government, but none of the other requests have been satisfied," Sindhu continued. He was referring to the government's decision to repeal three contentious farm laws after persistent farmer agitation in 2020–21.

From Sultanpur, Haryana, Kanchan Devi, 45, was on the verge of tears. "All of our crops were ruined. We lack both a home and electricity. The government had promised a house under PM Awas Yojna, but they never gave one. We installed three to four bulbs in our field, and the costs reached Rs 10,000. Nobody examines it using the metre. The electricity is then turned off if we can't pay. Although the crops belong to us, the government charges us for them. The government is not helping us in any way, she claimed. The minimum wage was the other issue that brought people together locally."

The gathering is a "call for justice" for 39-year-old Chhattisgarh anganwadi worker Sumitra Devi. We put our lives at danger throughout the pandemic, yet we never took a day off. We were supposed to do that, but we got paid so little. Although we didn't receive any leaves, were we immune to the pandemic? My entire family was impacted. The state administration has pledged to raise wages twice, but this hasn't happened yet. Nobody appears to pay attention, she claimed. In Assam, according to 32-year-old Surmayee Baruah, "we were paid only Rs 1,500 for our work. I've had the same job for ten years, and the pay is the same. We are here to express our opposition. Badal Saroj, joint secretary of AIKS, commented on the matter, stating, We are requesting Rs 26,000 minimum wage for workers because they need it."

Saroj emphasized that the Swaminathan report had provided a formula for MSP that, if used, may reduce farmer suicides. The BJP pledged to put it into effect in its 2014 manifesto. This included providing the farmer with 60% of their earnings in addition to their income, the cost of production, the price of seeds, and the rent for the land. But it wasn't finished, he said. Saroj continued, "If you keep taking away their money, what will they do? The question shouldn't be how to make the lives of those who produce resources worse, but rather how to contribute to their improvement. To assure better life in the future is the fight."

"Banks and governmental institutions serve as safety valves during economic crises since they are funded by tax dollars. We saw that banks and insurance businesses survived the 2008 inflation and contributed to maintaining economic stability. Private banks are not held to the same standards," he continued. Similar worries were voiced by Biplab from Kolkata.