Lok Sabha Question No. 5617 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Benefits Provided to Textile Sector Employees
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Behanan Benny

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5617 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2019

## BENEFITS PROVIDED TO TEXTILE SECTOR EMPLOYEES

## 5617.  SHRI  BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a)    the benefits which have been provided for textile sector employees in the country;
- (b)    whether any new schemes was launched in this regard;
- (c)    if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)   if not, the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): Government  has  been  implementing  various schemes  for welfare and development  of  textile  workers/weavers  including  handicraft  artisans  which  inter-alia include the following:-

- (i) Under  the  Group  Insurance  scheme  for  powerloom  workers,  insurance  cover  is provided  to  all  the  power  loom  weavers/workers  in  the  case  of  natural  death, accidental  death  as  well  as  partial  and  permanent  disability  due  to  accident. Additionally,  the  weavers/  workers  enrolled  under  this  scheme  are  entitled  for educational grant of Rs. 600/- per child half-yearly for two children studying in 9 th to 12 th standard for a maximum period of 4 years. Under the scheme, total number of powerloom weavers/workers enrolled was 1.11 lakh in 2015-16, 1.32 lakh in 201617 and 1.62 lakh in 2017-18.
- (ii) Under the 'Textile Workers Rehabilitations Fund Scheme (TWRFS) which has been merged with the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the textile workers who rendered jobless due to permanent

closure of the mills, are provided a relief of 75% of the wage employment in the first year; 50% in the second and 25% in the third year.

- (iii) Under  the  'Handloom  Weavers  Comprehensive  Welfare  Scheme(HWCWS),    life and  accidental  insurance  are  provided  to  handloom  weavers/workers  in  the  age groups of 18-50 years. It was, then, converged under Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY).   The HWCWS has been merged under 'Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti  Bima  Yojana'  (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana (PMSBY).   Total targeted enrollment of weavers/workers under the PMJJBY and converged  MGBBY  are  5.32  lakh  for  2017-18  and  6.65  lakh  for  2018-19  which include 3.84 lakh for general states and 2.84 lakh for North Eastern States. As add on benefit to the above, scholarship @ Rs. 180/- per month per child is provided to a maximum of two children of the beneficiaries studying 9th to 12 th standard.
- (iv) Further for welfare of handicraft artisans, health and life insurance viz., Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) is being implemented. Under the AABY, all crafts persons between 18-59 years are covered for the benefits of natural death, accidental death; total  disability  and  partial  disability.  Furthermore,  scholarship  of  Rs.1200/-per annum per child is provided to their two children who are studying in 9 th std to 12 th std for a period of four years or till they complete 12 th std.
- (v) Apart  from  the  above,    various  welfare  facilities  and  benefits  are  provided  to employees/workers under various Statutory Acts/Rules  which inter-alia include the following:-
- (v.i)  Under  the  Employees  Provident  Funds  and  Miscellaneous  Provisions  Act,1952, benefits  of  provident  funds,  pension  funds  and  deposit  linked  Insurance  Fund  are provided to workers/employees in factories and establishments including textile units;
- (v.ii) Under the Employees State Insurance Act,1948,  medical facilities from primary health care to super specialty treatment are provided to the insured employees/workers and their family members; as well as cash benefits to beneficiary at the time  of physical distress  due  to  sickness,  temporary  or  permanent  disablement  resulting  in  loss  of earning capacity;
- (v.iii)  Under  the  Maternity  Benefits  Act,1961,  maternity  leave  and  payment  of  certain monitory benefits are provided to women employees subject to fulfillment of certain

conditions  during  the  period    when  they  are  out  of  employment  on  account  of pregnancy;

- (v.iv)  Under  the  Payment  of  Gratuity  Act,  1972,  every  employee,  other  than  apprentice, irrespective of his/her wages, is entitled to receive gratuity after he/she has rendered continuous service for five years or more;
- (v.v)  The  Unorganised  Workers  Social  Security  Act,  2008  provides  for  social  security benefits for workers in the unorganized sector such as life and disability cover, health and  maternity  benefits,  old  age  protection  and  benefits,  etc.  It  has  been  decided  to converge  Aam  Aadmi  Bima  Yoja  (AABY)  with  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoi  Bima Yojana/Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana.  Under  these  scheme,  life  insurance cover is provided to persons between 1859 years of age in 48 identified vocational/occupational groups who are living below and marginally above the poverty line.  Under AABY, insurance cover for a sum of Rs.30, 000/- is provided on natural death,  Rs.75,  000/-  on  death  due  to  accident,  Rs.37,  500/-  for  partial  permanent disability  (loss  of  one  eye  or  one  limb)  due  to  accident  and  Rs.75,000/-  for  total permanent disability (loss of two eyes or two limb or loss of one eye or one limb) due to accident. The scheme also provides add-on-benefit wherein scholarship of Rs.100 per month per child is paid on half-yearly basis to a maximum of two children per member, studying in 9 th to 12 th std.
- (vi) Under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) which was launched on 9 th May, 2015, all persons in the unorganized sector in the age group of 18-40 years who join under the scheme through  saving  bank  account  and  subscribe  with  a  contribution  of  Rs.42  or  84  or Rs.126 or Rs.168 or Rs.210, will get minimum pension of Rs.1000 or Rs.2000 or Rs.3000  or  Rs.4000  or  Rs.5000  respectively  at  the  age  of  60  years.    After  the subscriber's demise, his/her spouse will get the pension and after the demise of both the  subscriber  and  the  spouse,  the  nominee  of  the  subscriber  will  get  the  pension wealth as accumulated till age of 60 of the subscriber.
- (vii) Under  Mudra  scheme,  loan  at  concessional  interest  rate  is  provided  to  handloom weavers and handicraft artisans.

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