Shramajivi Sanghatana

Release of bonded laborer’s led to the formation of the Shramajeevi Sanghatana.

The release of bonded laborer’s led to the formation of the Shramajeevi Sanghatana. The organization of tribals, bonded laborer’s and other rural poor. The need for a body was felt, which could represent the interests of the bonded laborer’s in the courts of law, an organization not managed by trustees but by the people themselves, which would stand on the strength of the masses and inspire, confidence in the people. Thus, in October 1982, the Shramajeevi Sanghatana was registered as a trade union. 

The union now has over 100000 members and challenges multiple forms of injustice including violations of, land, human rights. Shramajivi Sanghatana (SS) is also active in offering the training in human rights activism for community leaders

Achievements of Shramajivi Sanghatana.  

The release and rehabilitation of approximately 5000 bonded laborers in Thane district. Our movement led to the effective implementation of The Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, a law that only existed on paper until then.

Anti-Slavery International of the United Kingdom awarded the Anti-Slavery Award of 1999 to Vidyullata and Vivek Pandit. The British Parliament passed a special resolution praising the work undertaken by them and the organizations they founded.

Stopping forcible eviction of tribals from forestland and securing land rights for more than 15000 tribal families. Now they are treated as legal landholders by the government and the benefits of government programs reach them. 

Building a grassroots organization of 100000 tribals, dalits, unorganized laborers, and other deprived sections of society. Development of trained and committed leadership, especially from among the youth population of Maharashtra.

Representation of ex-bonded labourers and their sons and daughters to Panchayat Raj Institutions (local self-government) from village to district levels. Those who were exploited for generations are now representatives of the people and taking decisions for the development of their communities.

Successful implementation of the Bhonga school model for the education of migrant workers' children at brick kilns. The program has benefited more than 30,000 children in Thane district over the last 13 years. The National Child Labour Society, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and the Maharashtra Government have accepted the program as a model for wider implementation. 

Successful campaign for the declaration of the Mahatma Phule Education Guarantee for deprived children. The Guarantee includes a separate component for the children of seasonal migrant workers' children. Government of Maharashtra nominated Shri. Vivek pandit on the State Task Force for Primary Education and was instrumental in framing of the Mahatma Phule Education Guarantee Scheme. It is the first scheme in the country, which assures primary education to every child.

A model residential school for girls from the exploited Katkari tribe, which has a female literacy rate of 1%. Currently 300 katkari girls are educating in this school.

For the eradication of Malnutrition, sanghatana struggled for the effective implementation of government schemes. As a result, schemes like Amrut Aahar yojana, village child development center which were stopped by government due to unavailability of funds are now regular with sufficient funds. Sanghatan compel government to make the changes at policy level to combat Malnutrition.

All the concerned departments including Tribal development department, women and child development department, Food and civil supplies department, Public health department, public distribution department are found to be working efficiently. State as well as central government are disbursing funds on regular basis after actions by sanghatana.

Sanghatan with its sister organization founded full-fledged malnutrition eradication center in jawhar block. This center is working as primary center to combat Malnutrition in the district.