Hyderabad Bastee People’s Federation

Urban Workers Manifesto

For Telangana State Legislative Assembly Elections 2018

Hyderabad Bastee People’s Federation after wide consultation among all stake holders have formulated the following Manifesto on behalf of almost sixty Lakh working class people living in slums in Urban Telangana.

As per 2011 census, 1.36 crore, i.e., 38.9 per cent of the State’s total population of 3.5 crore, lives in urban areas. There are sixty Lakhs Unorganized Workers in the six Municipal corporations and 136 Municipalities in the State. They are primarily engaged in as Domestic Workers (10 Lakhs), Construction Workers (20 Lakhs), and others such as Safai Karmcharis, Auto Rikshaw drivers, Vendors, Daily wage laborers etc. Therefore the backbone of the urban economy as builders and maintainers of Cities and its economic productivity.

In the context of the Legislative Assembly Elections expected to be conducted by the end of the year, organizations and Trade Unions of the working class people in the state held a wide range of consultations to formulate a Manifesto reflecting their demands.

It is expected that all political parties coming to seek the votes of the Urban working class people will include these demands as part of their Party Manifestos for the coming Elections.

Domestic Workers

1. Establishment of separate Social Security Board for Domestic Workers under Unorganized Sector Social Security Act, 2008 and implementation of Social Security measures including Pension, Maternity Benefit, Health and Accident Insurance, 2BHK and Marriage Benefits.

2. Since Domestic Workers work within Households, 2% of Property tax shall be allocated to Domestic Workers Social Security Board by Urban Local Bodies.

3. Implement fair wages, weekly Holiday and Maternity leave for Domestic Workers.

4. Regulation and monitoring of Recruitment Agencies of Domestic Workers in the State

Construction Workers

1. Compulsory registration of all construction workers in the State.

2. Skill up-gradation for construction workers.

3. Increase accident Insurance to 5 Lakh in case of loss of limbs and Rs. 10 Lakh for loss of life.

4. Recognition and Regulation of Labor Addas , Provision of Toilet and subsidized breakfast and lunch.

5. Linkage of Labor Addas to nearest Anganwadis to facilitate children of working mothers.

Safai Karmacharis

( Around 30,000 in Telangana)

1, Make Telangana Manual Scavenging Free State by end of 2019.

2. Procurement of Machinery to replace employing Manual Scavengers.

3. Allot Rs. 100 Cr in the State Budget for ‘The Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers’.

Housing

1. Increase the land allotted for Housing for Weaker Sections to 20% of total Residential areas in the GHMC Master Plan. Ensure in situ Housing in existing slums. Similar measures are to be takein in all Municipal areas in the State.

2. Make Housing For All under the 2BHK Scheme available to all deserving families in Urban areas within the next Three Years. The houses are to be built in-situ, so that livelihoods of the people are not affected.  

3. The Telangana Government adopt a policy of Zero Evictions in the Municipal Areas.

4. New Housing colonies reserve 20% of the built up area for service personnel to ensure that no new slums are formed.

5. Establish cheap rental housing for seasonal migrant working families

6. Compulsory Beneficiary participation in planning and implementation, and Independent Social Audit for all 2BHK Housing Scheme.

Children and Youth

1. Make Urban areas in Telangana Child friendly by eliminating all forms of Child abuse and Child Labor.

2. Introduce Breakfast in State Government schools and Anganwadis to eliminate child undernourishment in the State.

3. Establish one Anganwadi Center for every 200 households in slums.

4. Establish one ITI Institute for every 5 lakh population

5. Implement Right to Education Act in the State including 25 % admissions in Private Schools.