Lok Sabha Question No. 47 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Social Security Schemes being implemented for Women in Odisha
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 47

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES BEING IMPLEMENTED FOR WOMEN IN ODISHA

47.  SHRI MAHESH SAHOO:

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

(a)whether the Government has social security schemes being implemented for women in Odisha, if so, the details thereof; (b)whether the Government is running social awareness program in the State with regard to the schemes, if so, the details thereof; and (c)if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  is  functioning  to ensure improvement in life and dignity of labour force of the country by protecting and safeguarding the interest of workers.

For promoting welfare and providing social security to the women  labour  force  following  acts/schemes  have  been  enacted  and being implemented:

- Maternity  Benefit  Act,  1961,  as  amended  vide  the  Maternity Benefit  (Amendment)  Act,  2017,  inter-alia,  provides  for  paid maternity leave to women workers and crèche facility in respect of establishments having 50 or more employees. The Government has increased paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks of which  not  more  than  eight  weeks  shall  precede  the  date  of
- expected delivery.
- Equal  Remuneration  Act,  1976  provides  for  payment  of  equal remuneration to men and women workers for same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination.

The  following  schemes/acts  by  Government  of  India  also promote welfare and provide social security to the labour force including women:

- The ESI Scheme under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 is a social security legislation to provide medical care and cash benefits  to  insured  Persons  and  their  family  members  in  the contingencies of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury.
- Social security is also being provided to employees through the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 (EPF), the Employees' Pension  Scheme,  1995  (EPS)  &  the  Employees'  Deposit  Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976 (EDLI).
- Pension scheme for unorganized workers namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) was launched to provide a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years.
- Other schemes of GOI such as Public Distribution System through One Nation One Ration Card scheme under National Food Security Act, Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kausal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi  Bunkar  Bima  Yojana,  Deen  Dayal  Antyodaya  Yojana, PMSVANidhi, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana etc. are also available for the unorganized sector workers.

(b) & (c): In  order to extend the outreach to stakeholders about the different  services  interactions  are  being  made  through  webinars  and different social media platforms.

Further, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has also launched  various  programs  for  creating  awareness  among  women  of

Odisha during the year 2022-23, the details of which are as follows:

- Capacity Building & Personality development programs in collaboration with Universities/ Colleges for their UG/PG Women Students. The aim of the program is to make women independent and employment-ready. Focus is on use of intuitive, logical and critical thinking, communication  and  interpersonal skills to enhance employability.
- Celebration  of  Poshan  Maah:  To  create  awareness  activities focusing on disseminating information regarding National Nutrition Policy and other schemes to achieve the goal of nutrition amongst women.

Also, various seminars have been conducted on following themes in the state of Odisha:

- ·
- ·
- ·
- Rights of Single Women
- Economic Development of SCs and STs women in Odisha
- Protection of Women from Witch Hunting.

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