By The Hindu Bureau
Labour Minister and Dharwad district in charge Santosh Lad has said that the government had introduced several schemes towards providing social security to the workers of the unorganised sector, who constituted 90% of the working class in the country.
Speaking at the distribution of smart cards to unorganised sector workers and at the awareness programme at Bengeri 鈥楽anthe Maidan鈥 in Hubballi on Tuesday, the Minister said that the five guarantee schemes had improved the lives of the people.
The Labour Department, the Karnataka State Unorganised Sector Workers Social Security Board, the Transport Department, and the district administration had jointly organised the programme.
Mr. Lad said that in the last two years efforts were being made to improve the lives of the unorganised sector workers. 鈥淥ver 1.8 lakh people have registered under the Union government鈥檚 e-Shram portal. Approximately 1.6 crore unorganised sector families have registered and among them 35 to 40 lakh workers are construction workers. Transport workers have also been brought under the unorganised sector,鈥 he said.
The Minister said that so far in 43 accident cases, compensation of 鈧1.82 lakh had been distributed and 29 students had been given educational assistance of 鈧2.9 lakh.
The Minister also elaborated upon the gig workers鈥 insurance scheme and other measures taken by the State government. He said for companies having over 20 employees, giving gratuity was mandatory. Already 6,000 companies had registered benefitting over 65 lakh workers, he said.
鈥淯nder the Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hasta scheme, 91 categories of unorganised sector workers have been identified. It is estimated that there are 40 lakh such workers in the State and so far, 25,45,607 have registered. In Dharwad district, 1,12,295 workers have registered and smart cards are being given to them,鈥 he said.
Presiding over the function, Mahesh Tenginakai, MLA, said that the schemes of the government should reach the last man in the society. He emphasised the need for ensuring that timely benefits reached genuine beneficiaries.
On the occasion, beneficiaries of various schemes were issued compensation cheques and smart cards were issued to the unorganised sector workers.
Chairman of HESCOM Syed Azeem Peer Khadri, HDUDA chairman Shakir Sanadi, former minister A.M. Hindasageri, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Divya Prabhu G.R.J., ZP CEO Bhuvanesh Patil, SP Gopal Byakod, HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali and others were present.