Welfare Schemes for Unorganised Workers

The Minister Of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya has said that according to the survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) in 2009-10, the total employment in both the organized and the unorganized sectors in the country was 46.5 crore, of which 43.7 crore were in the unorganized sector. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya said that with a view to providing social security to unorganized workers, the Government had enacted the “Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008”. The Act provides for the constitution of National Social Security Board at the central level to recommend social security schemes viz. life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection and any other benefit as may be determined by the Government for unorganized workers. The Minister said that Government has already taken various steps to provide social security for the unorganized workers. Some of these schemes are listed as under: 1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, (Ministry of Rural Development). 2. National Family Benefit Scheme, (Ministry of Rural Development). 3. Janani Suraksha Yojana, (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare). 4. Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, (Ministry of Textiles). 5. Handicraft Artisans’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, (Ministry of Textiles). 6. Pension to Master Craft Persons, (Ministry of Textiles). 7. National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension, (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries). 8. Janshree Bima Yojana and Aam Admi Bima Yojana, (Department of Financial Services). 9. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, (Ministry of Labour and Employment).