Lok Sabha Question No. 3599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-15
Subject: Welfare Scheme for Beedi Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3599 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.07.2019

## WELFARE SCHEME FOR BEEDI WORKERS

†3599. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

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

- (a)the State-wise schemes of social security, education, health training and other welfare activities being implemented for beedi workers in
- the country and the details thereof;
- (b)the detail  of  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  under  such schemes during each of the last three years and current year;
- (c)if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d)the  details  of  the  efforts  being  made  by  the  Government  to  provide
- medical facilities to the beedi workers at their workplace; and
- (e)the  details  of  the  meeting  of  Central  Advisory  Committee  to  pay attention  to  matters  relating  to  beedi  workers  during  the  last  three years and action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Welfare Schemes for Beedi Workers
- (i)    Scheme  for  award  of  scholarships  to  the  wards  of  Beedi/Lime stone  and  Dolomite  Mines/Iron  Ore/Manganese  Ore/Chrome  Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers.

Contd..2/-

| SCHEME                                                                                                                                                 | Nature of assistance                                                                             | Nature of assistance                                                                                                           | Nature of assistance                                                                             | Nature of assistance                                                                             |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Scholarship is awarded to the wards of the workers at the following rates per student per year:- | Scholarship is awarded to the wards of the workers at the following rates per student per year:-                               | Scholarship is awarded to the wards of the workers at the following rates per student per year:- | Scholarship is awarded to the wards of the workers at the following rates per student per year:- |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group                                                                                            | Class                                                                                                                          | Rates                                                                                            | Rates                                                                                            |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group                                                                                            | Class                                                                                                                          | Girls                                                                                            | Boys                                                                                             |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group                                                                                            | Class I to IV                                                                                                                  | 250                                                                                              | 250                                                                                              |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group                                                                                            | Class V to VIII                                                                                                                | 940                                                                                              | 500                                                                                              |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group                                                                                            | Class IX                                                                                                                       | 1140                                                                                             | 700                                                                                              |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group IV                                                                                         | Class X                                                                                                                        | 1840                                                                                             | 1400                                                                                             |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group V                                                                                          | Class XI to XII                                                                                                                | 2440                                                                                             | 2000                                                                                             |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | Group V                                                                                          | ITI                                                                                                                            | 10000                                                                                            | 10000                                                                                            |
| Scheme for award of scholarships to the wards of Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine 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 Beedi/Lime stone and Dolomite Mines/Iron Ore/Mangane se Ore/Chrome Ore Mines/Mica Mines/Cine Workers. | GROUP VII                                                                                        | Professional Degree Courses i.e.B.E./B.Tech/ MBBS/ BAMS/BUMS/ B.Sc (Agriculture) and MCA/ MBA.                                 | 15000                                                                                            | 15000                                                                                            |

## II. REVISED INTEGRATED HOUSING SCHEME (RIHS), 2016:

Revised  Integrated  Housing  Scheme  (RIHS),  2016  for  Beedi Workers  is  being  implemented  in  the  country  through  office  of  17 Welfare  Commissioners  of  the  Labour  Welfare  Organisation  of  the Ministry. The housing subsidy of Rs. 1,50,000/-  is disbursed in three installments in the ratio of 25:60:15.

## III. HEALTH SCHEME:

Besides providing health care facilities through 12 Hospitals and 286  Dispensaries  across  the  country  following  assistance  is  given  to certain categories of diseases:-

|   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/- to workers.                                                                                                                             |
|       3 | Kidney Transplantation                                                                        | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 2,00,000/- to workers.                                                                                                                             |
|       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/- to workers and their dependents.                                                                                                          |

## IV. TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF BEEDI WORKS

Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  initiated  action  for  skill development the Beedi workers to provide alternate source of employment for viable alternative sources of livelihood.

(b) to (d): the details  of funds  allocated, released an utilized under such schemes during each of the last three years and the current years

(Rs. In thousand)

| Years   | Health          | Health                     | Scholarship     | Scholarship               | Housing         | Housing                   |
|---------|-----------------|----------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------|
|         | Budget Allotted | Utilizatio n/ Expenditu re | Budget Allotted | Utilization/ Expenditur e | Budget Allotted | Utilization/ Expenditur e |
| 2016-17 | 967509          | 944710                     | 875500          | 777968                    | 551200          | 203387                    |
| 2017-18 | 1517379         | 913268                     | 849110          | 183214                    | 618632          | 324679                    |
| 2018-19 | 288958          | 72488                      | 497200          | 410264                    | 357710          | 258395                    |
| 2019-20 | 130000          | 13631*                     | 302500          | 389*                      | 396300          | 31740*                    |

* Expenditure till June, 2019.

Health  care  facilities  are  provided  to  beedi  workers  and  their families though 12 hospitals and 286 dispensaries.

(e): With the implementation of GST and introduction of Finance Bill 2016,  the  cess  collected  for  running  the  welfare  schemes  have  been abolished or subsumed in the GST.

The  role  of  Beedi  Workers  Welfare  Fund,  under  the  Beedi Workers  Welfare  Fund  Act  to  advise  the  Government  on  fund  related matters  are  no  longer  supported  as  these  Funds  have  been  repealed  or under the process of repeal.

However a meeting of the Central Advisory Committee on Beedi Workers Welfare Fund was held in the year 2017 and the suggestions given by this committee has been adhered to.

******