Demanding allocation of 5 per cent of GDP towards non–discriminatory, non-targeted universal social security, the members of Social Security Now – a national campaign demanding social security as a right for all people living and working in India – observed National Action Day across the country on February 23, 2010. SSN members submitted memorandum to district collectors of around 100 districts raising the demand to extend social security benefits to all people living and working in India. Mass meetings and demonstrations were also organised.  

According to the reports received so far, in Maharashtra districts where memorandums were submitted include Nagpur, Sangli, Satara, Thane and Raigad; In Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Prakasam, Kadapa, Kurnool, Rangareddy, Warangal and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh memorandums were submitted to the District Collector and in Guntur, Hyderabad and Medak dharnas of over 100 people were organised; in Jaipur, Baran and Tonk in Rajasthan delegation of 20 people gave the memorandum to the Collector; sit-ins were organised in Lucknow, Sultanpur, Allahabad and Barabanki in which more than 80-90 people participated; in Gujarat, memorandum was in Surat and Sonbhadra; in Madhya Pradesh memorandums were given in about 8 districts including Jabalpur and Mandla and a rally of over 1000 people was held in Bhopal; in Tamil Nadu memorandums were given in 12 districts including Pudukkottai and Madurai.

In Tamil Nadu in 20 other districts memorandums will be given on March 1, 2010. On January 26, memorandum will be given in Navrangpur, Nuabada and Kahandi in Orissa.   Demonstration and lobbying with the State governments have been planned in Maharashtra and Bihar in March.

Earlier on February 5 workshop on social security was organised in Kandhamal and memorandums were given to the collector in Jasugoda, Valangi, Sundergarh in Orissa. On February 18 meeting of over 3000 people was organised in Varanasi.

The SSN National Working Group members, in particular, Cornerstone, Yuva, NIWCYD, NDLFRM, BIRSA, LSM, PSM, UPGMS nidan, CECOEDECON, Vigyan Foundation, DDVA, USDMWM and others took the lead in organising the actions in different states.

Followed by this district level action, the Social Security Now (SSN) will have a demonstration on February 26, 2010 at Jantar Mantar demanding 5 per cent GDP for non-targeted, non-discriminatory, universal social security.