November 02, 2001

‘21’

        The Cine Workers Welfare Fund, 1981 is to be amended to raise the income eligibility ceiling of cine workers. The Labour Minister Shri Sharad Yadav said here that the Labour Ministry would try to get the proposed amendment passed by the Parliament in the forthcoming winter session. He said that the amendment would empower the Ministry to notify the income eligibility ceiling through executive decision from time to time so that maximum number of cine workers can get the benefit from the Welfare Fund. At present the income eligibility ceiling is Rs.1600/- per month which enables only half of the 63 thousand cine workers to avail benefits under the Welfare Fund. Shri Yadav said that the purpose of the amendment is to cover all cine workers.

        The bill to amend the Cine Workers Welfare Fund was introduced in Parliament in December last year. The Parliamentary Standing Committee to which the bill was referred has approved the amendment.

        The Cine Workers Welfare Fund operated by the Labour Ministry provides health care to cine workers and their families through dispensaries at Mumbai, Calcutta and Hyderabad. In addition, the cine workers are provided financial assistance to meet full cost of treatment for cancer and upto one lakh rupees for treating heart and kidney ailments. And to promote education among the children of cine workers, financial assistance for purchase of books and uniforms is provided besides scholarships. Other benefits include Group Insurance Scheme operated by the LIC. The Labour Ministry pays Rs.30/- per worker as insurance premium. The beneficiaries are entitled to a compensation of Rs.5.000/- in case of natural death and Rs.10, 000/- in case of accidental death or permanent disability. This is in addition to compensation benefits facilitated under various other labour Acts.

        The Labour Minister said that his Ministry would give priority to the provision of social security to workers in the organised sector. He said that they constitute 92 percent of our total labour force and are bereft of any social security benefit. He said that EPFO and ESI have been asked to frame schemes to provide social security in the unorganised sectors.