Latest news with #HRFAP
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Immediate continuation of doorstep delivery system for PDS sought
Visakhapatnam: Even as the Andhra Pradesh government decided to do away with the door delivery method of supplying essential commodities to beneficiaries under public distribution system (PDS) from June and restore the previous system of dispensing them through fair price shops, it did draw flak from various sections of society. However, the door delivery system was scrapped following a survey that indicated that a section of ration cardholders did not receive essential commodities, discrepancies in the supply mechanism, operational challenges, diversion of goods, lack of manpower to operate vehicles, etc., Expressing concern over the Andhra Pradesh government's recent scrapping of the doorstep delivery system for public distribution of rations, Human Rights Forum (HRF) representatives mentioned that the move will severely undermine the food security of Adivasi communities, particularly those in remote and interior villages of the state. Introduced in 2021, the doorstep delivery model ensured rations were handed over directly to beneficiaries through mobile dispensing units (MDUs), even in remote habitations. This dramatically reduced the travel burden for the elderly, persons with disabilities and daily wage workers. In Adivasi areas, this system was a critical step towards accessible welfare delivery, especially among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), stressed HRF AP state general secretary Y Rajesh and AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna. At several places, Adivasis are now forced to walk up to 10-km across difficult terrain to access rations. The State government's claim that beneficiaries were missing rations under the doorstep system does not align with evidence on the ground, the HRF team pointed out. In fact, a field survey by LibTech India, a policy research organisation, covering 790 Adivasi respondents in the Paderu ITDA region of Alluri Sitarama Raju district found that 83 percent preferred the doorstep delivery system over the depot system for collecting rations. Notably, 92 per cent stated that it had reduced travel distance. While 75 per cent of respondents said under-delivery was a recurring issue at depots, 65 per cent experienced coercion to purchase additional items. Clearly, for many Adivasi families' resident in remote areas, the doorstep system removed significant travel barriers to access ration supplies, the HRF members emphasised. HRF opined that a dual-access model with MDUs as the primary channel and depot-based backup access for those who missed the truck could have been sustained. HRF demanded immediate restoration of the doorstep ration delivery system across all tribal areas, with a provision for depot access to those who miss the MDU. The door delivery model must be strengthened through improved logistics, volunteer support, transparency and robust grievance redress mechanisms.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HRF condemns AP's10-hour workday bill
Visakhapatnam: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) condemned the recent assent by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet to the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025 that seeks to impose a 10-hour work day. This, the HRF representatives opine, is an irresponsible and deliberate assault on labour rights and dignity. 'We demand its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. This move, sought to be brought about through an amendment to The Factories Act, 1948, is no 'reform' but a grotesque regression. It is plainly exploitative and treats with contempt decades of labour struggles that have advocated for and attained a humane and sustainable work environment,' mentioned HRF AP state general secretary Y Rajesh and HRF AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna. These rights have a long and glorious history, wrested through generations of hard-fought battles led by the working class and progressive movements. The state government now seeks to dismantle these rights so as to benefit corporate interests, they pointed out. The eight-hour work day is the cornerstone of modern labour rights. The HRF recalled the historic legacy of BR Ambedkar who played a decisive role in institutionalising the eight-hour workday. This is now being sought to be rolled back. Extending the maximum daily working hours amounts to entrenching exploitation and a roll-back of hard-won labour safeguards. It normalises overwork, erodes the right to rest and leisure and strips away dignity from labour. This measure constitutes a fundamental breach of the government's constitutional obligations, they emphasised. HRF calls upon all democratic forces to oppose this devious move.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HRF condemns AP's 10-hour workday bill
Visakhapatnam: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) condemned the recent assent by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet to the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025 that seeks to impose a 10-hour work day. This, the HRF representatives opine, is an irresponsible and deliberate assault on labour rights and dignity. 'We demand its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. This move, sought to be brought about through an amendment to The Factories Act, 1948, is no 'reform' but a grotesque regression. It is plainly exploitative and treats with contempt decades of labour struggles that have advocated for and attained a humane and sustainable work environment,' mentioned HRF AP state general secretary Y Rajesh and HRF AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna. These rights have a long and glorious history, wrested through generations of hard-fought battles led by the working class and progressive movements. The state government now seeks to dismantle these rights so as to benefit corporate interests, they pointed out. The eight-hour work day is the cornerstone of modern labour rights. The HRF recalled the historic legacy of BR Ambedkar who played a decisive role in institutionalising the eight-hour workday. This is now being sought to be rolled back. Extending the maximum daily working hours amounts to entrenching exploitation and a roll-back of hard-won labour safeguards. It normalises overwork, erodes the right to rest and leisure and strips away dignity from labour. This measure constitutes a fundamental breach of the government's constitutional obligations, they emphasised. HRF calls upon all democratic forcesto oppose this devious move.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HRF condemns AP Cabinet's proposed 10-hour work day
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has criticised the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet's recent approval of the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025, which seeks to extend the workday to 10 hours. The HRF described it as an irresponsible and deliberate assault on labour rights, and has demanded its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. In a statement on Tuesday, V. Rajesh, HRF AP State general secretary, and V.S. Krishna – HRF AP & TG Coordination Committee member—said that the amendment to the Factories Act, 1948, is no 'reform' but rather a regressive and exploitative move. It undermines decades of hard-fought battles by the working class that established a humane and sustainable working environment. The HRF leaders pointed out that the State government now seeks to dismantle these rights to benefit corporate interests. The 8-hour workday is the cornerstone of modern-day labour rights, achieved through decades of working-class resistance. B.R. Ambedkar, who played a decisive role in institutionalising the 8-hour workday, was in many ways its architect. Ambedkar's relentless efforts in the 1940s, in conjunction with the working-class struggles, led to an 8-hour cap on daily work. This is now being sought to be rolled back. Mr. Krishna and Mr. Rajesh noted that HRF was of the view that the much-talked-about 'ease/speed of doing business' has become a euphemism for curtailing labour rights so as to appease the capital investors. In the current policy discourse in the State, 'attracting investment' is shorthand for systematic deregulation, casualisation, weakening of regulatory oversight, and erosion of labour rights. Extending the maximum daily working hours amounts to entrenching exploitation and a rollback of hard-won labour safeguards. It normalises overwork, erodes the right to rest and leisure, and deprives workers of dignity from labour. This measure constitutes a fundamental breach of the government's Constitutional obligations. The HRF leaders called upon all democratic forces to oppose this devious and retrograde move.
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HRF demands reinstating VSP's terminated contract workers
Visakhapatnam: Expressing solidarity with agitating contract workers of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant who were terminated, the Human Rights Forum (HRF) demanded reinstating all the 3,000 of them with immediate effect. HRF AP state president KV Jagannadha Rao and HRF AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna emphasised that the management must abandon attempts to terminate a further 1,800 contract workers. 'We condemn the management's use of police to intimidate workers instead of engaging in dialogue and seeking democratic resolution of issues raised by them. Resorting to fear tactics instead of negotiation, particularly when production at the plant is being affected, is unacceptable,' they stressed. Contract workers are the backbone of daily operations at the plant but they continue to be denied basic rights, job security and dignity at the workplace. Their persistent demands for regularisation and fair wages remain to be unmet, the HRF representatives expressed concern. The Central government is orchestrating a systematic conspiracy to privatise the steel plant by granting Rs.11,440 crore package, waiving GST and other dues and making the plant lucrative for the private players, Jagannadha Rao and Krishna stated. 'We condemn this attempt to hand over a precious industrial asset built on the sacrifice of 32 lives and voluntary land donation by people belonging to 69 villages to corporate interests on a platter,' they said. In the 40-year history of the VSP, such intimidation tactics and huge police deployment were never witnessed. The suspension of protesting workers and the issuance of show-cause notices, the HRF representatives said, were in direct violation of the Industrial Disputes Act of 1948. HRF calls for immediate stoppage of punitive actions by the management and a democratic and peaceful resolution of grievances of employees and contract workers at the VSP and attempts to privatise the steel plant are halted.
