Trinamul leaders in Malda and North Dinajpur, the two neighbouring districts in north Bengal which have thousands of migrant workers and workers in unorganised sectors, have engaged INTTUC — the party’s workers’ front — to prepare a comprehensive database of such persons and their families and bring them under the ambit of the party’s trade union.
The exercise, party insiders said, can help the Trinamul Congress galvanise its support base, particularly in the upcoming civic and rural elections.
“Altogether, there are over five lakh migrant workers from these two districts who serve in other states. Also, there are others who stay here but serve in unorganised sectors and we do not have their complete details. Trinamul has felt it necessary to prepare a database of all of them, along with their families,” said Subhadeep Sanyal, the Malda district INTTUC president.
According to Sanyal, detailed information about these workers would enable the party to know about their whereabouts, whether they are still employed or are sitting idle at homes after the pandemic induced lockdown of last year and more importantly, whether they are covered under the benefits of the state-run social welfare schemes.
“The same is applicable for their family members. Many migrant workers have lost their jobs and we want to ensure that each family is receiving all assistance which is provided by the state through different welfare schemes,” the INTTUC leader added.
The INTTUC workers engaged for this exercise have been asked to keep records of all such families who are prospective beneficiaries of government schemes but have not received the benefit so far because of some reason or other.
“Even if there is one family member — for example an elderly woman — who is not receiving the old age pension, the workers will note it down. In due course, we will individually take up these cases with the administration of the block concerned through our local leaders,” said a Trinamul leader based in North Dinajpur district.
A Trinamul leader said: “With the initiative, the party will have detailed information about the migrant workers and workers of the unorganised sector of each block of these districts.”
“Also, our initiative to help the families of the workers in getting benefits from the state government — right from free ration to monthly financial assistance — would help us to draw their support in the upcoming elections,” the party leader added.
