SHILLONG:
With an aim to help workers in the unorganized sector to eke out their living,
a “One day Legal awareness programme on the Rights and Benefits of Workers in
the Unorganized Sector” on Saturday at Yojana Bhavan Auditorium, Main
Secretariat Building, Shillong.
The awareness programme was organized by the Meghalaya State
Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) in collaboration with the Labour Department,
Government of Meghalaya in which Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya
and Patron-in-Chief, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, Justice A. K.
Mittal was the chief guest.
Addressing the inaugural programme, the Chief Justice
informed that the term ‘unorganized worker’ is defined in Section 2 (m) of The
Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 which is an Act of the Parliament
of India enacted to in order to provide social security and welfare for the
unorganised workers. Stating that education plays a vital role in developing
the economy of the country, the Chief Justice said that it is an important
element in converting the population into national asset.
Speaking that education is of prime importance, Mittal
further added that if the workers in the unorganised sector were educated and
trained they could take advantage of all the benefits available to them.
Judge of the High Court of Meghalaya, Justice H. S. Thangkhiew,
said the unorganized sector plays a very important role in the economy.
He added that although, legislation and law were in place but
access to justice was a problem for the unorganized sector as to whether the
benefits under the laws were really reaching the unorganized sector.
Thangkhiew said the discussion at the awareness programme is
important to find new ways and means by the MSLSA and government department to
alleviate conditions of the unorganized sector.
The other highlights of the day’s programme include
distribution of scholarships to the children of workers in the unorganized
sectors who had registered themselves in Meghalaya Building and Other
Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.
