1. Project Title Organising the unorganised-Gang men Tentative Duration 2 Years Starting Date July 2006 July 2006 Geog.Coverage Bhopal/Madhya Pradesh/INDIA Executing unit West Central Rly. Employees Union, Administrative Branch, Bhopal Implementing Unit Divisional Branch, WCREU Preparation Date 22 March 2006 Author Anjana Singh Chauhan Email:anjana_nov1@yahoo.co.in

2. Problems  Privatisation  Globalisation  Downsizing  Outsourcing OUTCOME  Declining employment opportunities.  Bad working and service conditions  Rising Informal sector  Non availability of social security, job security

3. Major Challenges  To organise scattered unorganised workers –about 320 million  To achieve job security for the force.  Though the Unorganised Sector Workers Bill-2003 has been passed, yet it remains to become a law.

4. Organising the Unorganised  Majority of the workforce is scattered.  Low wages in comparison to organised sector  Direct threat to the organised workers-more outsourcing by the railways.  Outsourcing results in the organised losing their jobs.  No proper working environment.  No grievance procedure.  Uneducated- difficult to make them understand

5. Organising Who?  100 gang men- both men and women, between the age of 40-60 years, are uneducated, work under harsh conditions, under all circumstances in maintaining and repairing the railway track. They work on contract basis on low wages.Their employer is the contractor.

6. Target Group  20 leaders, activists, educators of WCREU.  Unorganised workers, 100 in number and come under the purview of the Administrative Branch. They shall be termed as Gang Men who are not covered under any existing social and safety norms.

7. Implementers  Members of the Administrative branch, WCREU with support of the Divisional Branch.  Selected trainers from previously trained education campaigns.  Street theatre actors.

8. Decision Makers  Secretary, Administrative Branch WCREU.  Divisional Secretary, WCREU Bhopal.  Zonal General Secretary, WCREU Bhopal.  General Secretary, AIRF, New Delhi.

9. Financiers  Administrative Branch (a % of the yearly subscription of the member)  Fund from the Divisional Branch  Funds received from the Zonal Union.

10. Long Term Objective  The project shall contribute to increase the knowledge of the gang men with regard to their rights, wages, benefits of collective bargaining etc.  Gang men shall become members of the Union which will result in the union getting stronger. Membership increases.

11. Immediate Objective  WCREU will have a policy to organise the unorganised workers.  WCREU will be able to create an enabling environment by providing them better working conditions, medical facilities etc.  WCREU, with the help of street theatre actors make the gang men realise the different working conditions in the organised sector in comparison to theirs.

12. Key Outputs-Direct Results.  Policy is framed to move from organised sector – informal.  Gang men become aware of their rights of job security, social security and collective bargaining.  Issues of the workers are identified and a breadth of clarity and vision is provided to lead them to the path of development.  Street theatre activities are developed and conducted taking the employer/ contractor in confidence.

13. Activities  Identification of a workplace and workers (mapping)  Finding out of an issue which is widely and deeply felt, which should give workers a sense of their power  Person-person contact. Build a rapport.  Collaboration shall make a difference.  Volunteers-to support the project.  Coordinators and educators are made aware of FOA and CBA.  Case studies presented as audio visual aids.  Printing of posters, leaflets, in the local language.  Short plays are enacted to make clear the advantages of unionism.  Visual aids are procured.  Collection of funds.

14. Main Inputs-main Resources  Human Resources- Union Representatives, leaders, volunteers, educators and street theatre group.  Funds-Funds from the Branch, Divisional and Zonal Union level. Funds may also be collected as donations from social societies.  Materials- Videos, posters, leaflets, audio aids.

15. Indicators of Achievement  Minutes of the meeting conducted to frame a policy  List of workers identified with their workplace  List of the workers major issues.  List of trainers, educators, training material and copies of leaflets.  Scripts of play, list of locations and approx. no. of audience.  Monitoring and evaluation reports.

16. Risks  Contractor creates hindrances Possible Response-Get in touch with the outsourcing agency. Possible Response-Get in touch with the outsourcing agency.  Local union is unable to provide the resources.  Possible response- Volunteers may be called from other branches.  Administrative Branch WCREU becomes sustainable.WCREU is not able to develop an active training and counselling service.  Response-Help, advice and active involvement of the other 6 branches can be taken.

17. Monitoring/ Reporting/ Evaluation  Meetings and discussions at the Branch level.  Divisional and Zonal Union will monitor through regular reports and close communication  WCREU(Admin.Branch) shall coordinate and monitor, monthly and quarterly financial statements will be submitted  An annual progress report to be submitted by WCREU Admin. Br. In July 2007  Zonal Union shall meet in August 2007 to evaluate the progress achieved

18. Funds / Budget Proposal No Main Item Local currency US$ 1 Training to trainers, educators(2 modules) Rs 3000x2=6000. 00 $133 2 Conducting awareness for the gang men 2000x12=240 0.00 $1067 3 Visual aids,leaflets,posters 5000.00S112 4 Street theatre group Rs 500x24 =12000 $266 5 Misc Work 5000.00$112 Total66000