KTR demands Congress govt to fulfill promises to gig workers

BRS working president KT Rama Rao criticised the Congress government for failing to implement Abhaya Hastam Declaration promises. Telangana gig workers demand Rs 5 lakh insurance compensation, social security, proper wages, and a Gig Workers Welfare Board

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday charged the Congress government with betraying gig and platform workers by failing to implement the Abhaya Hastam Declaration promises. He demanded that the government take corrective measures and fulfil its promises immediately.

Members of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) met Rama Rao at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday. The TGPWU team shared their grievances, including the non-payment of Rs 5 lakh accident insurance compensation to families of deceased gig workers Ahmed bin Abdul Khudar, Shyam Sundar, and Lokurthi Naresh despite submitting all documents.

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Rama Rao said the Congress, which had issued a special declaration during the election campaign, abandoned the workers after coming to power. Terming the delay in release of accidental insurance compensation a gross injustice, he demanded immediate release of compensation and urged the government to establish a Gig Workers Welfare Board, ensure social security with insurance, fix proper wages, and legislate safeguards for the sector.

“Rahul Gandhi had promised to take personal responsibility. Where is that responsibility now?” he asked, adding that mere rhetoric would not solve workers’ hardships.

The BRS working president assured that BRS would fully support the passage of a special law for gig and platform workers’ welfare if the government introduced it in the Assembly. He said gig workers, who served even during the pandemic, deserve dignity, protection, and fairness.

“Congress is making a habit of offering promises for votes and forgetting them later. If they are sincere, let them prove it by delivering justice to gig workers immediately,” he said.