Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) national vice-president Rama Chandra Khuntia on Tuesday extended his support to the Union and State Governments on their moves to fight out the coronavirus outbreak and urged all workers to cooperate with the Governments.
He, however, stated that about 50 crore workers in the country, including one crore of Odisha, would suffer a lot and many of them might lose lives due to stopping of income source. These labourers included MGNREGS workers, wood collection, household works, deliver of goods, vendors, restaurant workers, tourism workers, daily wagers, contract workers and migrant workers, etc. Khuntia demanded that the Union Government and the State Government constitute taskforces to look into problems of workers. He too demanded that the Union Government make special fund of Rs 50,000 crore and provide a financial support of Rs 10,000 plus a month’s wage to each of construction, jungle, agriculture, MGNRGEA and daily wagers soon.
He said he has written to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, Labour Minister and Labour Secretary in this regard.
