BMS demands stimulus package to benefit labour intensive sectors

NEW DELHI: RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has asked the Modi government to declare stimulus package for employment generating activities in labour intensive sectors in order to contain slow down of economy.Arguing that strengthening the purchasing power of common man is the main solution to stimulate the economy, the BMS warned, “Benefits of any stimulus package should not be siphoned to the private and corporate sector.”The labour union demanded that stimulus package should directly benefit the employment generating sectors — agriculture, small scale sector (including those in manufacturing sector) and construction sector as well as other such sectors like beedi.The union said agriculture sector should be revived by providing more subsidy, loan waiver and other measures.In a statement, BMS said the government should increase the work days of MGNREGA from present 100 days to 200 days per year and link the scheme to agricultural works.“It should also arrange payment of wages directly to their bank account on the next working day itself. This will soothe India’s large rural economy,” said BMS, adding that MGNREGA is now in a crisis in many states because of non payment of wages even after six months.The BMS said the present slowdown is the result of wrong direction of economy and job displacing reforms followed as a continuation of UPA policies.“PM’s good intentions and efforts are neutralized by lack of proper experts, lack of communication and feedback from labours, farmers, BPL, tribals, backward people and micro industries and dependence on faulty advisors and misguided reforms,” the statement said.It added, “Excess thrust on jobless growth had resulted in loss of employment instead of job creation.”The BMS said labour law reforms proposed hire and fire, labour cost reduction, labour displacing technologies, disinvestment, ban on recruitment, abolition of posts and staff and automation.“FDI had already destructively affected our micro and small scale sector as well as retail trade sector,” it added.