BMS Launches Protest in Nabarangpur with 11-Point Demand Charter, Calls for Immediate Attention to Workers’ Concerns

Nabarangpur,Aug 19 [UDN}: Following the decision taken at the 161st Central Working Committee (KKS) meeting of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) held in Ranchi, a nationwide Protest Day was observed at all district headquarters in support of workers’ interests.
In Nabarangpur, various organisations affiliated with the district BMS—including the All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association, Odisha State ASHA Workers’ Union, All Odisha Hospital Employees’ Union, Mangal Team Workers’ Union, Odisha Krushi O Gramin Mazdoor Sangh and Vishwakarma Mazdoor Sangh—took part in a massive protest.
The protesters took out a rally from the Nabarangpur Police Parade Ground and marched to the District Collector’s office, where they staged a demonstration. A memorandum containing 11 demands was submitted through the Nabarangpur District Collector to the Prime Minister, Union Labour Minister, Union Finance Minister and Chief Minister of Odisha.
The protesters demanded an increase in the ESIC wage ceiling from ₹21,000 to ₹42,000, an increase in the minimum EPF pension from ₹1,000 to ₹7,500, and raising the EPF wage ceiling to ₹30,000. They also demanded that the bonus calculation ceiling be increased to ₹18,000 and the bonus eligibility ceiling to ₹42,000.
Other demands included regularisation of scheme workers such as Anganwadi and ASHA workers along with an increase in their remuneration, implementation of “equal pay for equal work” for contractual workers, removal of anti-worker provisions from labour laws, implementation of a five-day working week for bank employees, increasing the gratuity ceiling to ₹40 lakh, fixing the central minimum wage at ₹30,000 per month, and providing full job security to Development Officers working in the Life Insurance Corporation.
The protesters urged the Central and State Governments to take immediate action on the long-pending demands of workers. BMS adviser Parameswar Bishoyi warned that if the governments failed to fulfil their commitments, the agitation would be intensified.
More than 5,000 workers and office-bearers from various organisations reportedly participated in the programme.
The protest was coordinated by BMS secretary Bishnu Prasad Bishoyi, with assistance from Vishwakarma Mazdoor Sangh district secretary Khageswar Bishoyi. Several office-bearers of the Anganwadi, ASHA, hospital employees and other affiliated unions were also present.