Lok Sabha Question No. 45 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 45

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2021

## ATAL BEEMIT VYAKTI KALYAN YOJANA

45.   DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

- (a)whether the scheme Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) has been introduced on pilot basis for a period of 2 years for providing relief to the Insured Persons who have become unemployed;
- (b)if so, the details thereof and total number of persons covered under
- the scheme in the country including district Gopalganj of Bihar;
- (c)whether it is a fact that the Government has extended ABVKY for the next financial year, if so, the details thereof and the aims and objective behind the extension; and
- (d)the steps taken/being taken to strengthen the working condition of persons working in unorganised sector in the country including gig workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) & (b):  Yes, Sir.  The Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) is a welfare scheme of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), under which unemployed insured persons are provided cash relief for a  period  of  maximum  90  days.  The  rate  of  relief  under  the  scheme originally  was  25%  of  the  average  daily  earnings  of  the  claimant which  has  been  increased  to  50%.  The  scheme  came  into  force  on 01.07.2018. It was initially implemented on a Pan India pilot basis for a period of two years.

Till  09.07.2021,  a  total  of  Rs.  73.23  crores  have  been disbursed among 55,125 beneficiaries, out of which an amount of Rs. 63.65 lakh has been paid to 560 beneficiaries in Bihar. At present there is no beneficiary under the scheme from district of Gopalganj of Bihar.

- (c): Yes,  Sir.    ABVKY  was  extended  for  another  year  i.e.  from 01.07.2020 to 30.06.2021 and in order to provide relief to those insured persons  who  became  unemployed  during  the  Covid-19  Pandemic, conditions for the scheme w.e.f. 24.03.2020 were revised as under: -
- i. The  rate  of  relief  under  the  scheme  was  enhanced  from  25%  of average per day earnings to 50% of average per day earnings and the contributory condition was relaxed.
- ii. The  waiting  period  to  file  claim  was  reduced  from  90  days  to  30 days.
- iii. Mandatory  filing  through  employer  and  submission  of  affidavit  by the claimant was dispensed with.

The Scheme has further been extended for another year i.e. up and to 30.06.2022 with existing relaxed terms and conditions, enhanced relief.

- (d): As part of  labour reforms, the government has recently notified 'The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020,' to ensure better working conditions for the workers including unorganised workers. The Code inter-alia has provisions for cleanliness  and  hygiene,  ventilation,  adequate  lighting,  dust  free environment, flexible working for women workers, crèche facilities for their  children,  toll  free  helpline  for  the  inter-State  migrant  workers, etc.

It  is  for  the  first  time  that  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020 provide for definition of gig worker and platform worker in the country. The Code envisages framing of schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers. Further, the Code on Social Security, 2020 envisages a contribution between one to two per cent of annual turnover  of  an  aggregator  subject  to  maximum  five  per  cent  of  the amount paid or payable by an aggregator to gig workers and platform workers. This shall be credited to the Social Security Fund. However, the same has not come into effect.

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