Lok Sabha Question No. 182 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-01
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: AJAY NISHAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 182 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.01.2018

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR LABOURERS

†*182. SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

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

- (a)whether the Government proposes to bring more welfare schemes for labourers;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the Government also proposes to regularize the services of casual labourers/daily wagers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether  rules  have  also  been  formulated  for  fixing  the  working hours of such labourers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)the  mechanism put in/likely  to  be  put  in  place  for  implementation
- and monitoring of the said schemes?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 182 FOR ANSWER ON 01.01.2018 BY SHRI AJAY NISHAD REGARDING WELFARE SCHEMES FOR LABOURERS.

(a),  (b)  &  (e)  The  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment,  through  its  Labour Welfare  Organizations  across  the  country,  implements  welfare  schemes relating  to  housing,  education  and  health  for  beedi  workers,  mica  mine workers, limestone & dolomite mine workers, iron ore manganese, chrome ore mine workers and cine workers. These schemes were earlier administered through 5 Welfare Cess and Welfare Funds under various Cess Acts of Parliament. Now, these cesses have been abolished/subsumed in GST and  the welfare schemes  have  been  retained  with  funding from the Consolidated Fund of India. Salient features of these welfare schemes: are as follows: (i) Revised Integrated Housing Scheme-2016: Subsidy of Rs. 1,50,000 for construction of a new house is provided to the workers in three installments in the ratio of 25:60:15. (ii) Education  Scheme:  Financial  Assistance  varying  from  Rs.  250  to Rs.  15,000  per  year  is  provided  to  the  wards  of  the  workers  studying  in classes I to XII or pursuing non-professional and professional degree/graduate/post graduate courses. (iii) Health Scheme: Health care facilities are provided to the workers and their  dependents  through  12  hospitals  and  286  dispensaries  under  Labour Welfare  Organizations  all  over  the  country.  In  addition,  reimbursement  of expenditure  for  specialized  treatment  taken  in  Government  recognized hospitals is also provided.

In addition to the above welfare schemes, the Central Government has recently converged the social security schemes of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY)  with  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage  to  the  unorganised  workers  depending  upon  their  eligibility. PMJJBY gives coverage of  Rs. 2 lakhs on death at premium of Rs. 330/- per annum  for  an  age  span  from  18  to  50  years.    PMSBY  gives  coverage  of Rs.  2  lakhs  on  accidental  death  and  disability  at  premium  of  Rs.  12  per annum covering  an  age  span  from  18  years  to  70  years.  These  converged schemes are being implemented by Life Insurance Corporation of India. The annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by the Central Government and the State Governments.

## (c)     No, Madam.

- (d)   The working conditions of casual workers/daily wagers depend upon the labour laws applicable on the establishment they are engaged.

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