November 26, 2001

        Concerted efforts are being made to finalise a national policy for home based workers at the earliest. Stating this during the question hour in the Lok Sabha today, the Labour Minister Shri Sharad Yadav, however, said that due to divergent views among the various urgencies involved, it is difficult to indicate the time framework at present. He said although there is no authentic data available on home based workers, it is estimated that their number may be more than three crore. They constitute the second largest segment of workers after agricultural workers in the informal sector and make important contribution to national economy and foreign exchange earnings. Shri Yadav said that among these about 45 lakh workers are employed in beedi rolling industries, 65 lakh in handloom weaving, 48 lakh are artisans while 3 lakh workers are engaged in food processing. He said that some of the major trades and occupations of the home based workers include beedi making, agarbatti, handloom weaving, handicrafts and traditional crafts, block printing, readymade garments, embroidery and zari work, cane and bamboo work, leather and foot wear. The Minister said that there are several social security schemes for various sections of home based workers but all of them are not covered. He said that the government wants to extend the social security net to all of them but that is possible only after a national policy on home based workers is formulated.