September 19, 2020
Derek O’Brien makes Zero Hour mention on cash transfer for informal sector workers
FUlL TRANSCRIPT
Sir, this is for all informal sector workers, be they daily labourers, artists, weavers, craftspersons or anyone else. Obviously, all of them are facing a lot of problems due to the pandemic.
I want to make two points. One is that the 70-year-old All India Handicrafts Board, which is based in Kolkata, the All India Handloom Board and the All India Powerloom Board have all been abolished by the Centre. My appeal to the government is to reopen these boards at the earliest. Transferring money to these unorganised sector workers—be they artisans, be there artists or be there weavers—should also be prioritised.
In Bengal there are two schemes, Prochesta, which is for unorganised sector workers, and Sneher Porosh, which is for migrant labourers, through which Rs 1,000 is directly transferred to bank accounts.
The day before yesterday was Mahalaya, which marks the beginning of the auspicious Durga Puja. A lot of these weavers, artists and labourers are going through a lot of problems, for any of whom this is a very important festival. They have been affected badly by the pandemic. Hence cash transfers will help in generating income for thousands of such people.
My appeal to the Centre, through you, Sir, is to consider the Bengal model and facilitate cash transfer to all these informal sector workers.
