Lok Sabha Question No. 3047 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Protection of Women and Children Engaged in Beedi Rolling
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3047 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.12.2018

## PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN ENGAGED IN BEEDI ROLLING

3047. SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)whether any steps are being taken by  the  Government  to  ensure protection of women and children from hazardous health effects of beedi rolling;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the Government has taken any steps to create awareness among women regarding hazardous effects of beedi rolling and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether  any  State  specific  training  is  given  to  grass  root  level  workers
- about harmful effects of beedi rolling and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)the other steps taken for welfare of women engaged in beedi rolling in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): There  are  10  Hospitals  and  286  Dispensaries  under  Labour Welfare Organisation across the country to provide health care facilities to Beedi workers and their families.
- (c) & (d): Hospitals and Dispensaries under LWO organize health camps for awareness  of  effect  of  beedi  rolling  to  beedi  workers  including  women workers  in  all  the  States.  In  addition,  this  Ministry  has  initiated  a  Skill Development Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and National Skill Development Corporation  for  beedi  workers  and  their  dependants  to  provide  alternative jobs to them. As a part of this programme beedi rollers are being sensitized to shift towards other jobs.
- (e): This  Ministry  is  implementing  various  schemes  for  welfare  of beedi workers including women beedi workers. A list of these schemes is at Annexure A.

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Annexure referred to in reply of part (e) of the Lok Sabha USQ No. 3047 for answer on 31.12.2018 regarding Protection of Women and Children Engaged in Beedi Rolling raised by Sh. K.N. Ramachandran.

- i. HEALTH SCHEMES: Besides providing health care facilities to beedi workers and their families through 10 Hospitals and 286 Dispensaries, following assistance is being provided in case of certain critical diseases.
- ii. HOUSING SCHEME: Under the revised Housing Subsidy scheme RIHS -2016 an amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh is being provided to Beedi workers as subsidy for helping them to build their own pucca houses.

|   S.No. | PURPOSE                                                                                       | NATURE OF ASSITANCE                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Tuberculosis                                                                                  | Reservation of beds in T.B. Hospitals and domiciliary treatment for workers. Subsistence allowance of Rs. 750/- to Rs. 1000/- p.m is granted as per the advice of the treating physician. |
|       2 | Heart Diseases                                                                                | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 1,30,000/- .                                                                                                                                       |
|       3 | Kidney Transplantation                                                                        | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 2,00,000/- .                                                                                                                                       |
|       4 | Cancer                                                                                        | Reimbursement of actual expenses on treatment, medicines and diet charges incurred by workers, or their dependents for treatment through Govt. recognized hospitals.                      |
|       5 | Minor surgery like Hernia, Appendectomy, Ulcer Gynecological diseases and Prostrate diseases. | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 30,000/- .                                                                                                                                         |

## iii. EDUCATIONAL SCHEME:

| SCHEME                                                              | NATURE OF ASSISTANCE                                                                                      | NATURE OF ASSISTANCE                                                                                                              | NATURE OF ASSISTANCE                                                                                      | NATURE OF ASSISTANCE                                                                                      |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Scholarship shall be awarded to the children of the workers at the following rates per student per year:- | Scholarship shall be awarded to the children of the workers at the following rates per student per year:-                         | Scholarship shall be awarded to the children of the workers at the following rates per student per year:- | Scholarship shall be awarded to the children of the workers at the following rates per student per year:- |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                   | Rates ( in Rs.)                                                                                           | Rates ( in Rs.)                                                                                           |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group                                                                                                     | Class                                                                                                                             | Girls                                                                                                     | Boys                                                                                                      |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group I                                                                                                   | Class I to IV                                                                                                                     | 250                                                                                                       | 250                                                                                                       |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group II                                                                                                  | Class V to VIII                                                                                                                   | 940                                                                                                       | 500                                                                                                       |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group III                                                                                                 | Class IX                                                                                                                          | 1140                                                                                                      | 700                                                                                                       |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group IV                                                                                                  | Class X                                                                                                                           | 1840                                                                                                      | 1400                                                                                                      |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group V                                                                                                   | Class XI to XII                                                                                                                   | 2440                                                                                                      | 2000                                                                                                      |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group VI                                                                                                  | Non-Professional Degree Courses; Non- Professional Post Graduate Courses; Two- Three Year Diploma Courses and BCA, BBA and PGDCA. | 3000                                                                                                      | 3000                                                                                                      |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of the Beedi Workers. | Group VII                                                                                                 | Professional Degree Courses i.e.B.E./B.Tech/MBBS/BAMS/BUMS/ B.Sc(Agriculture) and MCA/MBA.                                        | 15000                                                                                                     | 15000                                                                                                     |

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