April 13, 2002
'21'
OVER ONE LAKH AGRICULTURAL WORKERS COVERED UNDER KRISHI SHRAMIK SAMAJIK SURAKSHA YOJANA
More than one lakh agricultural workers have been covered under the Krishi Shramik Samajik Suraksha Yojana since the launch of the scheme in July last year. Disclosing this while presiding over the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of his Ministry here today, the Labour Minister Shri Sharad Yadav said that the Government is concerned over the fact that majority of the workers in the unorganised sector are not covered under any welfare scheme. The Labour Minister said that there are 5 Welfare Funds in operation for Beedi Workers, Cine Workers and Non-Coal Mine Workers who constitute a small portion of over 37 crore unorganised workforce. These Welfare Funds cater to their health & sanitation, housing, water supply and educational facilities. Referring to Beedi Workers, Shri Yadav said that there are more than estimated 44 lakh workers who make beedis as the last resort of survival. The Government is working on re-constructing the welfare schemes to make them simpler and more meaningful so that the benefits percolate to the gross roots level. Shri Yadav announced that the insurance cover for Beedi Workers in case of natural death has been increased from Rs.3,000/- to Rs.10,000/- from April this year. He said other initiatives include decentralization of the Beedi Workers Welfare Fund and making the district a nodal unit for implementation of the same. He said that one of the main problems is the lack of awareness among the workers for availing welfare benefits under various schemes. Shri Yadav also said that several steps are being taken to create awareness among workers and the help of State Governments is being sought in this connection.It was revealed during the meeting that introduction of unique social security number by the EPFO will facilitate enrollment of construction workers for EPF benefits. Referring to the demand of the Members to create welfare funds for unorganised workers in various occupations, the Labour Secretary Shri Vinod Vaish said that viable ways have to be explored for financing the welfare funds. He said most of the occupations of the unorganised workers are financially so fragile that imposition of any cess would be detrimental for them.
Earlier participating the meeting, the Members wanted that welfare funds should be created for agricultural workers and those engaged in salt industry, fish processing industry and fish farms. They also said that the process for availing the benefits should be streamlined and made simpler. The Meeting was attended by the Members of Parliament Shri Pramod Panda, Shri Ram Chander Khuntia, Shri P. Rajendran and Senior Officials of the Labour Ministry.