Workers in Unorganised Sectors to have Social Security Fund

On 1June 2010 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released UPA government’s report to the People 2009-10 which informed about its decision to set up a National Social Security Fund for workers in the unorganised sector. The fund will have rupees 1000 crores to assist weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers and bidi workers who will be categorised as unorganised workers.

• Besides, the report announced amendment in the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923for the development of workers in organised sector.
• Amendment to the Plantations Labour Act 1951 to provide safety and health care to plantation workers during the occupation.
• Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 amended to increase the limit of maximum gratuity payable from Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh. The benefactor will not pay any interest rate.
• The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 amended so that health care and other benefits provided to the insured persons could reach to him in a better way in the organised sector.

The amendment would also enable ESI infrastructure to be used to provide health care to workers in the unorganised sector.

As the industrial training institutes across the country were being upgraded to train more than five crore people within the next five years, the report card said 60 ITIs, located in minority concentration districts would be upgraded as part of the Prime Minister's New 15-point programme.

The exercise is being carried out keeping in mind the increased demand for skilled hands by the industry to drive the ever-expanding economy.

The 15-point programme for ensuring targeted development to minorities and the government's thrust on improving their education status find mention in the report card.
The report listed wakf reforms and special development plans for the 90 minority concentrated districts (MCDs) as major steps in this regard.

• It also referred to opening of schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in blocks and districts having a substantial minority population.
• Dr. Singh said 17.29 lakh scholarships were given to children belonging to the minority communities for their pre-matriculation studies; 48 per cent of these are pre-matric scholarships on which an amount of Rs. 202.94 crore was spent.
• Under the post-matric scholarship scheme, 3.88 lakh scholarships were awarded at a cost of Rs. 148.74 crore.
• Minorities were provided over Rs. 96,000 crore of bank credit, while 502 public sector bank branches were opened in districts with a substantial minority population.