The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) extends its support to the November 26, 2020 all India strike called by several leading central trade unions.
The call by the workers unions is against the regressive labour codes legislated by the central government, privatisation of Public Sector units, growing unemployment etc.
The NPRD also extends its solidarity with the call given by various kisan organisations for protest actions on November 26 & 27 against the anti-farmer legislations.
The Covid19 pandemic has led to large scale job loss for the disabled, who even otherwise were rarely employed in the organised sector. Privatisation of public sector units negates the affirmative action provided by legislations like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which provides for reservation of 4 per cent in government and public sector undertakings. Casualisation and contractualisation have already led to various services and posts thrown out of its ambit.
The NPRD calls upon its state affiliates to organise solidarity actions on November 26 while reiterating the following demands:
1. Provide Rs. 5000/- as ex-gratia per month to all disabled during the pandemic period
2. Provide reservation in employment in the private sector
3. Provide 200 days of work to all disabled who register under MNREGA, enact Urban employment guarantee Act
4. Implement Section 24 of the RPD Act, 2016 – provide for caregiver allowance and unemployment allowance – as mandated in the Act.
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