Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Social Security Schemes
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 271 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES

## 271. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether the Government proposes to cover 40 crore workers from unorganized sector under social security schemes such as Employees' State Insurance and Employees' Provident Fund and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government proposes to implement reforms and new ways and means for employment generation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  India  is  the  only  country  which  has  launched  Shram Suvidha Portal for effective compliance and ease of doing business; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): It  has  been  the  constant  endeavor  of  the  Government  that  the workers  in  the  unorganized  sector  get  social  security  coverage  and the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social  Security  Act,  2008  is  a  major initiative  in  this  direction.  The  salient  features  of  the  Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 are:
1. Formulation of schemes by the Central Government for different sections  of  unorganised  workers  on  matters  relating  to  (a)  life  and disability cover; (b) health  and  maternity  benefits;  (c)  old  age protection (d) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government.

2. Formulation  of  schemes  by  the  State  Governments  relating  to provident  fund,  employment  injury  benefits,  housing,  educational schemes  for  children,  skill  upgradation,  funeral  assistance  and  old age homes.

The  Social  Security  Schemes  being  implemented  by  various Ministries/Departments for unorganized workers include Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (by Ministry of Rural Development), National  Family  Benefit  Scheme  (by  Ministry  of  Rural  Development), Janani  Suraksha  Yojana  (by  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Financial Services),  Rashtriya  Swasthya  Bima  Yojana  (by  Ministry  of  Health  &

Bima  Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana (by Department  of Family Welfare) etc.

- (b): For enhancement of livelihood security and employment generation all over the country including rural areas, the Government is implementing schemes like Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGA)  by Ministry of Rural Development, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) scheme by Ministry of  Skill  Development and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) by Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation. Government is also promoting labour intensive manufacturing and increasing employment opportunities by promoting tourism and agro-based industries.
- (c) & (d): Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India and the  State  Governments  enforce  more  than  44  labour  laws  in  their respective spheres. There have been requests from various stakeholders for ensuring simplification of formats, ease of compliance,  transparency  in  inspections  and  speedy  redressal  of grievances. In order to address these concerns Ministry of Labour & Employment  developed  a  single  unified  Web  Portal  for  reporting  of inspections  and  submissions  of  Annual  Returns  to  facilitate  ease  of reporting at one place of various labour laws, consolidated information of Labour Inspections and its enforcement, and to foster transparency and accountability in inspections. The web portal contributes proactively to achieve the objective of simplifying business regulations, effective compliance and ease of doing business.

*******