"They are the foundations of the entire human development in the country today. The implementation of all social sector schemes, whether anganwadis, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) or Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), are dependent on them," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.
He said these large number of workers were not granted the status of employees and, therefore did not enjoy minimum wages, nor post-retirement or other social security benefits.
"The honorarium they receive amount to Rs 200 to Rs 800 only, which is pathetic. These working women deal with activities relating to education, women and child's health to taking care of tuberculosis patients," he said.
Yechury, who along with his senior party colleague Basudeb Acharia led a delegation of these workers to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said they sought the creation of a GoM to deal with the problems of these workers as they concerned several Ministries.
"We told the Prime Minister that like he has a GoM on Infrastructure, he should have a similar GoM on social infrastructure," the CPI(M) leader said.
The meeting with the Prime Minister came after the workers, led by Centre of Indian Trade Unions, held a two-day protest sit-in near Parliament House here to press for their demands.