The Labour Ministry
has taken an initiative to develop skilled manpower in the North-Eastern
region. The Ministry is setting up 21 new Industrial Training
Institutes (ITIs) and strengthening 35 existing ITIs. Four new
ITIs will be set up each in Assam and Nagaland, two each in Arunachal
Pradesh and Mizoram, five in Manipur, three in Tripura and one
in Meghalaya. Similarly 17 existing ITIs are being strengthened
in Assam, four each in Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura, three in
Nagaland and one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim.
Labour Ministry has sanctioned Rs. 35.88 crore out of which Rs.11.15
crore have been released since last financial year.
In Labour Welfare
Sector, 6,000 beedi workers have been identified in Assam and
about 5,000 in Tripura for providing them with health-care and
subsidy for construction of houses. About 37 lakh rupees have
been spent since last financial year on provision of safety health
care. Rupees 13.80 lakhs were provided as subsidy to mine managements
in Nagaland and Assam for the construction of low cost housing
for workers. Other welfare measure includes covering of landless
agricultural workers under the Krishi Shramik Samajik Suraksha
Yojana to provide them comprehensive life insurance protection,
periodical lump-sum survival benefit and pension. The worker is
to contribute Rs.one per day as premium while the Central Government
contributes two rupees per worker as its contribution. Under the
Yojana, the Labour Ministry has spent Rs.76,250 each in Assam
and Mizoram and Rs. 1.33 lakh in Sikkim so far. In Arunachal Pradesh
3542 bonded labourers have been identified out of whom 2992 have
been rehabilitated under the centrally sponsored scheme. The Labour
Ministry has provided eight lakh rupees to the State Government
for conducting of a survey for identifying bonded labourers in
the state.
The Employees State
Insurance Corporation provides health care facilities to 1.37
lakh beneficiaries in Assam and Meghalaya through two hospitals,
28 ESI dispensaries and one diagonistic centre. The per capita
cost of medical care was Rs.995.86 during 2000-01 of which the
ESI Corporation met 7/8th share subject to per capita
ceiling of Rs.600. An amount of Rs.4.48 crore was spent in Assam
and 15 lakh rupees in Meghalaya during the last financial year
on meeting medical care needs of workers.
More than 1.84 lakh
subscribers are enrolled with the Employees Provident Fund in
the North-Eastern Region. Out of Rs.10.69 crore on account of
demand/damages of Provident Fund and other dues, Rs.4.30 crore
were collected till 30th of September this year. Prosecution
was launched in 210 cases while 45 cases are pending with police.
The EPFO settled more than 14,000 claims from 1st April
to 30th of September this year. Over 1.71 lakh Annual
Statement of Accounts were issued during this period.
