Church leader laments apathy toward unorganized workers

India has an estimated 500 million workers but 94 percent of them, or some 470 millions, are in unorganized sector.

New Delhi:  Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad has asked Catholics in northern India to take steps to help millions of unorganized workers, calling their general lack of concern for them an injustice.

The Syro-Malabar rite archbishop based in New Delhi was addressing a seminar organized by Catholic Bishops Conference of India’s Office for Labour for the representatives of northern states of Himachal, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Delhi.

India has an estimated 500 million workers but 94 percent of them, or some 470 millions, are in unorganized sector. The successive governments have hardly done anything to help them or ensure their basic rights, the prelate said.

The government of a welfare state has duty to ensure basic rights and life necessities of these people, he said adding that it “is an injustice” to enjoy their service neglect their basic rights and duties.

Archbishop Bharanikulangara wanted the Church to take extra steps in this Jubilee Year of Mercy to stand by the unorganized labours, majority of migrants in the cities like Delhi. He asked Church people device programs to help these people who toil under harsh whether in places unfamiliar to them.

Other experts who addressed the seminar include Father Jaison Vadassery, secretary of the bishops’ Office for Labour, Dr. Krishnakumar of Sri Venkatesware College in Delhi, Father Jose Edassery, Vicar General of Faridabad and Sister Rani HCM, Programme Manager of the Office for Labour.

Press Release