Lok Sabha Question No. 94 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Health Insurance Schemes for Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 94

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEMES FOR WORKERS

## 94. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  any  health  insurance  schemes  for unorganized workers including migrant workers in the country;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the Government has any social security portfolio/schemes
- for migrant labourers in the country;
- (d)if so, the details thereof;
- (e)whether State Governments have their own policies in this regard;
- and
- (f)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a centrally sponsored  scheme  to  provide  health  insurance  coverage  to  Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and 11 occupational categories of Unorganized Workers (MGNREGA  Workers,  Construction Workers, Domestic workers, Sanitation Workers, Mine Workers, licensed Railway  Porters,  Street  Vendors,  Beedi  Workers,  Rickshaw  Pullers, Rag  Pickers  and  Auto/Taxi  drivers),  which  include  migrant  workers. Each  family  enrolled  in  the  scheme  is  entitled  to  hospitalization benefits of upto Rs. 30,000 per annum including maternity benefits on a  family  floater  basis  (a  unit  of  five)  in  government  empanelled hospitals (includes both private and public).

Contd..2/-

(c) & (d): In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector including migrant workers, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. The 2008  Act  stipulates  formulation  of  suitable  welfare  schemes  for unorganised workers including migrant workers on matters relating to: (i)  life  and  disability  cover,  (ii)  health  and  maternity  benefits,  (iii)  old age protection and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central  Government through the National Social Security Board.  The welfare  schemes  to  provide  social  security  to  unorganised  workers including migrant workers being implemented by various ministries/departments of Government of India across the country are listed in Schedule I of this Act as mentioned below:-

- i. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development);
2. ii.
3. National Family Benefit Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development);
4. iii.
5. Janani Suraksha Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare);
6. Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (Ministry of
- iv. Textiles);
- v. Handicraft Artisans' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (Ministry of Textiles);
9. vi.
10. Pension to Master Craft Persons (Ministry of Textiles);
- vii. National  Scheme  for  Welfare  of  Fishermen  and  Training  and Extension (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries);
- viii.  Aam  Aadmi  Bima  Yojana  (Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment); and
13. Rashtriya  Swasthya  Bima  Yojana  (Ministry  of  Health  and  Family
- ix. Welfare).

Further,  the  Central  Government  has  also  launched  the  Atal Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  and Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  for  all  citizens  especially targeting unorganised workers to provide them comprehensive social

Contd..3/-

Pension Yojana, Pradhan  Mantri security.

(e) & (f): The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 stipulates that the State Government may formulate and notify, from time  to  time,  suitable  welfare  schemes  for  unorganised  workers, including schemes relating to (a) provident fund; (b) employment injury benefit;  (c)  housing;  (d)  educational  schemes  for  children;  (e)  skill upgradation of workers; (f) funeral assistance; and (g) old age homes. The details of the welfare schemes formulated by the States/UTs are not centrally maintained.

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