Orientation on Unionising the Unorganised sector workers – Possible fieldwork interventions

A two-day orientation programme titled ‘Unionising the Unorganised sector workers – Possible fieldwork interventions’, was organsied by the Department of Social Work for students of second year BSW and first year MSW students of the Department of Social Work. (21^st – 22^nd November, 2019). The students were oriented on the problems faced by the workers in the unorganised sector. The department invited several experts and trade union leaders to provide their input based on their field experience. The Speakers included: Mr. Clifton Rosario, Advocate and CPI (ML), AICCTU, Mr. Vijayabhaskar, AITUC Gen Secretary (oldest union & affiliated to World Trade Union, Mr. R Manohar, Human rights activist, CARE, Ms. Parijatha, union activist and Domestic Workers Union Leaders, Ms. Varalakshmi, President, Karnataka CITU, Mr. Shujathulla, Research Assistant, Indian Social Institute and Khalimullha Swaraj Abhiyan, Fr. Martin, Coordinator, Labour unit, Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru,  Mr. Ishwar Gowda, Patil, Union Activist, construction workers union, APSA, and Ms. Rini Martin, Skill Development Corporation, GOK. The students were sensitised on the ground realities with regard to unorganised workers and possible strategies to deal with prominent issues were also chalked out through discussion. The feedback from the students on the usefulness of the programme was positive.