16 May,2026 09:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai Youth Congress members launch the `Shahari Kamgar Nyay Abhiyan` and `Mumbai Cha Haq` campaigns. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Mumbai Youth Congress on Saturday announced two major campaigns - 'Shahari Kamgar Nyay Abhiyan (Urban Workers Justice Campaign)' and 'Mumbai Cha Haq (Mumbai's Rights)' - to fight for the "dignity, security, and justice of the city's unorganised workforce".
Addressing a press conference at the Mumbai Congress office, the party's city youth president Zeenat Shabreen accused the government of neglecting lakhs of urban workers who build and run India's financial capital.
"Millions of sanitation workers, domestic helpers, autorickshaw drivers, street vendors, and other unorganised sector workers continue to live in insecure and exploitative conditions. They are denied basic rights, social security and dignified lives," Shabreen said.
Sanitation workers: Immediate ban on manual scavenging, provision of safety equipment, permanent government jobs, health insurance, and compensation to families of workers who die on duty.
Domestic workers: Enactment of a separate law, minimum wage of Rs 100 per hour, weekly off, maternity benefits, health insurance, and pension.
Autorickshaw drivers: Protection from app-based companies' exploitation, police harassment, and formation of a welfare board with insurance, pension, and gas subsidy.
Street vendors: Strict implementation of the Street Vendors Act, vending zones, identity cards, and basic facilities, especially for women vendors. The Youth Congress strongly criticised the ongoing "beautification" drives that are "destroying" the livelihood of the poor.
Shabreen also launched a scathing attack on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the "Triple Engine Government", saying despite having thousands of crores in budget, Mumbai continues to suffer from potholed roads, flooding, polluted air, crumbling public transport and poor healthcare.
"Under the present regime, living, working and even breathing in Mumbai has become difficult. There is massive corruption in flood control projects, desilting and drainage works. Air quality is deteriorating and public services have collapsed," she alleged.
"This is not just an agitation, but a wider struggle for the honour, equality and constitutional rights of workers who build the city," Shabreen declared.
The Youth Congress has appealed to all Mumbaikars and urban workers to join the movement in large numbers by giving a missed call on 9811867474.
Also present at the press conference were Youth Congress in-charge Punit Singh Pariya and other office-bearers.
The twin campaigns are expected to intensify in the coming days with street protests and public outreach programmes across Mumbai.
