The three-day national convention on social security for unorganised workers came to an end at Patna on January 10, 2010 with a rally and public meeting attended by over 2000 people. Patna Declaration adopted at the national convention stresses on non discriminatory, non-targeted universal Social Security. The convention brough together unorganised workers, workers organisations, NGOs, networks, advocates, trade unions, peoples’ movements, dalit groups, women’s groups, migrants right organizations and other civil society groups.

The convention was inaugurated by Awadhesh Narayan Singh, Labour Minister of Bihar on January 8, 2010. The inaugural session was attended by leaders of various political parties including Digvijay Singh, MP (Lok Sabha); Ali Anwar, MP (Rajya Sabha); Sanjay Paswan, Former Union Minister; and Kedarnath Pandey, Member of Bihar legislative Council. It was followed by Mazdooron Ki Awaaz, where labourers from different parts of India deposed on issues related to social security before a panel of jury. The jurors for this session were Justice R R Prasad, Bihar Human Rights Commission; Arun Kumar, Times of India; SN Thakur, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC); and Sujata Gothoskar, International Union of Food Workers (IUF). On January 9, second day of the event there were sessions addressing issues related to vulnerabilities of migrants, adivasis, dalits and women and financing social security fund.