80 Detained as CITU Workers Hold ‘Jail Bharo’ Agitation in Maharashtra’s Jalna

Workers from the unorganised sector, led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), staged a ‘jail bharo’ agitation in Maharashtra’s Jalna on Monday, demanding permanent employee status and social security benefits for workers engaged in various government schemes.

A large number of CITU activists, agricultural labourers and members of workers’ organisations gathered at the Jalna Zilla Parishad office as part of the protest. Police detained around 80 protesters, who were later released, a police official said.

CITU leader Anna Sawant said the agitation was organised in response to a nationwide call by the joint action committee of Central Trade Unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha against what the organisations described as anti-worker and anti-farmer policies of the central and state governments.

Farmers, agricultural labourers and unorganised-sector workers, including women, participated in the demonstration. Protesters raised slogans against inflation, unemployment, contractualisation of jobs and reduction in social security benefits.

The workers demanded permanent employee status, along with ESI, PF and pension benefits, for anganwadi workers and helpers, ASHA workers, group facilitators, school mid-day meal workers, gram rozgar sevaks and employees working under the National Health Mission and other government schemes.

They also sought restoration of the MGNREGA system, 200 days of employment per family and a daily wage of ₹700. Other demands included distribution of agricultural land to landless families and regularisation of gairan land already occupied by eligible families.

“We demand the immediate repeal of the four labour codes, as they would adversely affect workers’ legal rights, job security, wages and social security,” Sawant said.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to Jalna Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Dr Krishna Kant Kanwaria.

The agitation concluded after the detained protesters were released, the Kadim Jalna police station official said.