Lok Sabha Question No. 2285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Health Insurance for Unorganised Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Pratima Mondal, Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2019

## HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNORGANISED SECTOR

## 2285. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

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

- (a)whether the Government has launched any Health Insurance Scheme for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  unorganised  sector's  workers  are  also  covered  under  the  said scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the workers of tea plants are covered under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)the list of existing schemes for the unorganised sector; and
- (e)whether the Government intends to bring a comprehensive legislation for the  unorganised  sector  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  estimated time for introduction?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojna (AB PMJAY)  is  an  entitlement-based  scheme.  The  eligible  beneficiaries  approx. 10.74 crore families which is 40% of the total population have been identified from  Socio  Economic  and  Caste  Census  (SECC)  database  by  applying  the following criteria:
- In  Rural  Area  Deprivation  criteria  applied  are:-  Only  one  room with kucha walls and kucha roof (D1), No adult member between age  16  to  59  (D2),  Female  headed  households  with  no  adult member  (D4),  SC/ST  households  (D5)  and  Landless  households deriving  major  part  of  their  income  from  manual  casual  labour
- I. (D7).
- II. In  Urban  Areas  the  following  Occupational  categories  families are eligible:-
- 1.
- Ragpicker
2. Beggar
- 3.
- Domestic worker

4. Street vendor/Cobbler /hawker /other service provider working on streets
5. Construction worker/Plumber/Mason/Labour/Painter/Welder/Security guard/Coolie and other head-load worker
3. 6.
4. 7.
5. Sweeper/Sanitation worker/Mali
6. Home-based worker/Artisan/Handicrafts worker/Tailor
8. Transport worker/Driver/Conductor/Helper to drivers conductors/Cart puller/Rickshaw puller
8. and
9. small
9. Shop worker/Assistant/Peon in establishment/Helper/Delivery assistant/Attendant/Waiter
10. Electrician/Mechanic/Assembler/Repair worker
12. 11.
13. Washer-man/Chowkidar

The  unorganised  workers  who  satisfy  the  above  mentioned criteria,  are  only  covered  under  the  AB  PM-JAY  scheme.  Workers  of  tea plants as category is not covered under the Scheme. However, if any of the family  member  of  worker  of  tea  plants  fulfils  the  above  Rural  and  Urban criteria, such a family will be eligible to take benefit under the scheme.

- (d): In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised  sector,  Government  enacted  the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social Security  Act,  2008.  This  Act  stipulates  formulation  of  suitable  welfare schemes for unorganised 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.  Life  and disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY)  to  the unorganised workers depending upon their eligibility. The health and maternity benefits are addressed through Ayushman Bharat scheme. For old age  protection  in  the  form  of  monthly  pension,  Ministry  of  Labour  & Employment  has  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maan-dhan  Yojana which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for providing monthly minimum assured pension of Rs. 3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years. The unorganised workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is  Rs.  15,000/-  or  less  and  not  a  member  of  EPFO/ESIC/NPS  can  join  the scheme.  Under  the  scheme,  50%  monthly  contribution  is  payable  by  the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government.
- (e): Draft  code  on  Social  Security,  2019  has  been  prepared  by amalgamating,  simplifying  and  rationalizing  the  relevant  provisions  of  the existing  Nine  Central  Labour  Acts  relating  to  social  security  for  organised and unorganised sector workers which aims towards expansion of coverage of social security.  Presently, the draft code on Social Security 2019 is under pre-legislative consultative process.

*****