Lok Sabha Question No. 1187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Unorganised Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Saikia Dilip

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1187

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## UNORGANISED WORKERS

†1187. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

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

- (a)the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  benefit  the  workers  of unorganized  sector  in  order  to  tackle  the  situation  arising  due  to the pandemic at present;
- (b)whether the Government proposes to provide relief package to the workers  of  unorganized  sector  in  north-eastern  states  including Assam;
- (c)whether the Government proposes to provide relief package to the workers of unorganized sector in all the States including Haryana; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): In order to mitigate the impact on the unorganised workers and  protect  them  against  the  economic  disruptions  due  to  the outbreak  of  Covid-19  pandemic  and  related  lockdown  the  Central Government has taken numerous measures to provide them financial assistance,  food  packages,  ration  and  other  benefits.  In  order  to ensure relief measures for the poor people including migrant workers and  also  their  families/dependents  in  a  sustainable  manner,  the Central  Government  announced  Rs.1.70  Lakh  Crore  relief  package under

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).  To boost employment and livelihood opportunites for migrant workers returning to villages, in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, Government of India has launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan on 20 th  June, 2020. The Abhiyan focuses on  durable  rural  infrastructure  and  providing  modern  facilities  like internet  in  the  villages.  Skill  Mapping  of  the  rural  migrant  labour  is being  done  to  help  them  work  closer  home.  The    Abhiyaan  involves intensified and focused implementation of  25 target driven works to provide employment and create infrastructure in the rural areas of 116 districts  of  6  States  with  a  resource  envelope  of  Rs.  50,000  Crore. Government has also announced a Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs20 lakh crore on 12th May 2020 based on five  pillars  of  Atmanirbhar Bharat  - Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand. For the Building and Other Construction  Workers,  the  Ministry  issued  advisory  on  24.03.2020 under section-60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996 to all the States/UTs to provide financial assistance to building and other construction workers from the  cess  funds collected  by  the States/UTs including north eastern States and Assam. In response, the State  Welfare  Boards  have  cumulatively  disbursed  around  Rs.5000 Crores,  to  approx.    1.83  Crores  BOCW  Workers  during  lockdown  and thereafter. Government of India has also launched SVANidhi Scheme for the benefit of 50 lakh street vendors to provide them collateral free working  capital  loan  upto  Rs.10,000/-  to  resume  their    livelihood.  In addition to the above, the Central Government has issued comprehensive Advisory Guidelines on 27.07.2020 to all the States/UTs for the welfare of the migrant workers including unorganised workers returning to the destination states for work.

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