Labour  

The Indian government and the International Labour Organisation are planning to replace the minimum wage with a living wage by 2025. The initiative aims towards improving living standards in India by providing fair pay. It is a challenging task as minimum wage varies across the nation and can also put small businesses under financial stress. If implemented, the shift can provide decent living and better nutrition and health. 

India Employment Report 2024 published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) revealed that in 2022, 83% of Indian youth were unemployed. The unemployment rate saw a rise between 2000 and 2019; however, employment among youth declined globally during the Covid years. 

Started as a movement to bring equal rights, better working conditions, and fair wages for women labourers in New York City in 1909, International Women's Day has become more than that. It is a celebration of women's achievements and fighting against discrimination and oppression, spreading awareness for women's rights and gender equality. 

The shortage of labour posed a significant problem in accomplishing daily farming tasks. To find a solution, Gurucharan Pradhan, a resident of Odisha, embarked on making a machine capable of performing several tasks at once. In the year 2000, he began studying various machines and designed his own model. After 7 years of diligent work, he achieved in success in the year 2007.

Shantabai was married off at the age of 12. In 1984, when Shantabai's elder daughter was 8 years old, her husband succumbed to a heart attack. Shantabai resorted to working in others' fields, earning a mere Rs 50 for 8 hours of labour. To sustain a living, she took up her husband’s occupation, and became the country's first female barber.

This industrialist’s journey from a humble delivery boy to a billionaire is truly remarkable. Amancio Ortega’s father was a labourer in the railways. He began his career as a delivery boy, and today, he is counted among world’s richest people.

Being the sole breadwinner of the family, Diganta Das struggled to make the ends meet. Even after facing several challenges in his life, he never gave up on his dreams of leading a better life. In the year 2022, he laid the foundation of his company Daily Fresh Food.

Nageshu, born in Odisha, works as guest lecturer during the day, and a porter during the nights. Due to difficult financial circumstances, he could only manage to complete his education while working as a labourer and a porter. He also runs a coaching centre where he provides free education to the underprivileged children.

Maniram Sharma is a resident of Alwar, Rajasthan. His father used to work as a labourer and his mother his visually challenged. Maniram also had a hearing disability. After completing his schooling, his father tried to secure a job for him at the BDO’s office, but he faced rejection. In UPSC 2009 exam, he cleared the exams the third time, and accomplished his dream of becoming an IAS officer.
 

Sonbhadra’s Rambabu has an exceptional tale of victory to share. Despite coming from a humble background, he trained himself as a professional runner and secured the bronze medal alongside Manju Rani in the mixed team event of the 35 km walk at the 2023 Asian Games. Previously, he held the record of completing 35 km walk in just 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 36 seconds.

India is full of innovative stories of inventions and discoveries. In this one, Lucknow’s Shailendra Singh has invented a model that produces electricity with the help of labour of the bulls. His enterprise is called ‘Nandi Rath’ and it currently produces 5 kilowatts of electricity in one hour for personal purposes.

Asha Malviya started her cycle tour on 1 November 2022 and journeyed through 28 states with goals of making people aware about girl education environment protection.

India's labour force of more than 507 million people continues to face challenges in 2020 due to the pandemic, globalisation, large-scale unemployment, and crumbling infrastructure. The government must be proactive to provide employment opportunities for a strengthened workforce and support the nation’s economic growth.

One of the reports of the International Labour Organization (ILO) states that India has the largest youth population in the world with nearly 66% of the total population below the age of 35.

Indira Canteens in BBMP limits will provide food packets, breakfast, lunch and dinner for poor people, migrants and labourers