Lok Sabha Question No. 1193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Human Rights Violations
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, Sunil Kumar Singh, Pradeep Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021

## HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

## 1193. SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR:

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

- (a)whether there is any institutional mechanism to address different types of
- human rights violations against inter-state migrant workers;
- (b)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)the  fresh  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  for  health  services, social protection, education services, housing and sanitation, food, water and  other  utilities  for  migrant  workers  particularly  in  Delhi,  Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Jharkhand?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): National Human Rights Commission addresses different types of human right violations of all citizens including inter-state migrant workers. For this purpose there are various  laws which inter-alia include the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of  Service)  Act,  1996,  the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social  Security  Act,  2008, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, the Sexual Harassment Of Women At Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition And Redressal)  Act,  2013,  the  Prevention  of  Atrocities  (Scheduled  Caste  and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1989 and the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

(c): Migrant labourers work  in various occupations. There  are several social security and welfare schemes for workers engaged in such occupations including migrant workers. The details are as follows;

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana  (Urban),  both  launched  in  2015,  aim  to  provide  housing  for  all  by 2022.  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) launched in 2015 provide for life & disability  cover  due  to  natural  or  accidental  death.  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram Yogi Man Dhan Pension Scheme (PM-SYM) launched in March, 2019 provides for old age social security in the form of monthly pension. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) launched in 2018 provides Rs.5 lakh  health  coverage  for  secondary  and  tertiary  health  benefits  to  all unorganized workers including migrant workers who are covered as eligible beneficiaries as per Socio Economic Caste census Data, 2011. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has recently launched a scheme called Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) to address the accommodation  needs  of  migrant  workers.  One  Nation  One  Ration  Card Scheme has facilitated portability of provisions of ration through PDS shops across the country for the migrant workers and their families.

However, during Covid - 19 pandemic period, Union Government has taken several additional measures for the benefits of workers, such as; creation of 39.51 lakh new job opportunities by crediting Rs.2583 crores in EPF accounts under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), benefits of Rs.2567  crores  to  retain  38.91  lakh  low  wage  employees  under  Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY),  financial assistance of Rs.7413 crore to  Building  &  other  Construction  Workers  (BOCW),  unemployment  benefit under  Atal  Beemit  Vyakti  Kalyan  Yojana  (ABVKY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Garib Kalyan  Rojgar  Abhiyan  (PMGKRA)  generating  50.78  crore  mandays  with Rs.39,293 crores, working capital loan to street vendors under PM-SVA Nidhi Scheme, free food grain of 5 kg per person per month to all Targeted Public Distribution  System  (TPDS)  beneficiaries  and  special  training  programme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana in the selected districts having high concentration of returnee migrant workers.

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