Lok Sabha Question No. 173 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Welfare of Unskilled/Skilled Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Nishikant  Dubey

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 173 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2022

## WELFARE OF UNSKILLED/SKILLED LABOURERS

## 173. DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

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

- (a)the  details  of  schemes/programmes  being  run/implemented  by  the Government  for  welfare  and  upliftment  of  unskilled  and  skilled labourers/workers in the country;
- (b)the  State/UT-wise  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned/released  and utilized  in  this  regard  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the current year; and
- (c)the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the overall  conditions  of  workers  including  their  safety,  health  and working conditions at the workplaces?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c): The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 mandates the government to formulate 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. The Life  and  disability  cover  is  provided  through  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Surksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).  The  health  and  maternity  benefits  are  provided  through Ayushman  Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (AB-PMJAY) which is a universal health scheme. Old age protection is provided to the  unorganised  sector  workers  through  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme.  The details of fund under ABPMJAY is as under;

| Year    |   Amount of central share of premium released to the States (Rs. in crores) |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                                                                     2992.93 |
| 2020-21 |                                                                     2544.09 |
| 2021-22 |                                                                     2940.66 |

The  details  of  funds  allocated  and  expenditure  incurred under PM-SYM is as under:

(Rs. in crore)

| Year    |   Fund allocated |   Expenditure |
|---------|------------------|---------------|
| 2019-20 |              408 |        359.95 |
| 2020-21 |              330 |        319.71 |
| 2021-22 |              350 |        324.23 |

Further,  Skill  India  Mission  aims  to  empower  the  Indian youth through skill development. Under Skill India Mission, Ministry of Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  is  implementing  its flagship  scheme  Pradhan  Mantra  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY). PMKVY  has  two  components  namely  Short-Term  Training  (STT)  and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Under PMKVY, unemployed youth including  labourers/construction  workers  are  provided  short  duration skill  training  to  become  employable  and  earn  their  livelihood.  RPL enables individuals to obtain skill certification.  Individuals with prior learning experience or skills can register themselves and get assessed and certified. RPL mainly focuses on the individuals engaged in  unregulated  sectors  including  labourers/construction  workers.  The training/orientation  duration  under  RPL  ranges  between  12-80  hours. Under the PMKVY 4.04 lakh labourers/construction workers have been oriented  out  of  which  2.93  lakhs  workers  got  certified.  The  trainees are  also  provided  accidental  insurance  coverage,  reward  money, conveyance allowance,  post  placement  support,  boarding  &  lodging, etc.

Apart  from  these  schemes,  Atal  Pension  Yojana,  Public Distribution  System  under  National  Food  Security  Act,  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Deen Dayal Upadhyay  Gramin  Kaushal  Yojana,  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana, National Social Assistance Programme, Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Antyodaya Yojana, PMSVANidhi, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, are  also  available  to  the  unorganised  workers  depending  upon  their eligibility criteria.

To improve the working conditions, the Government of India has declared the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace (NPSHEW) which aims to establish a preventive safety and health  culture  in  the  country  through  elimination  of  the  incidence  of work related injuries, diseases, fatalities, disasters and to enhance the well-being of employees in all the sectors of economic activity in the country.

******