Question : SALT WORKERS

(a)whether the Government is aware that the salt workers in various parts of the country are reportedly working under inhuman and pathetic conditions;

(b)if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c)whether the Government has implemented any scheme especially for the upliftment and welfare of these workers and their families;

(d)if so, the details thereof including the funds allocated for the purpose under various schemes during each of the last three years and the current year; and

(e)the other welfare initiatives taken by the Government to address their problems such as lack of drinking water, hospitals and education of their children etc.?

MINISTER OF STEEL, MINES, LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 464 BY SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE AND SHRI DEVJIBHAI G. FATEPARA REGARDING SALT WORKERS.

(a) & (b): Government is aware that salt workers in various parts of the country work under harsh and difficult conditions. Salt workers face challenges of poor connectivity, severe climatic conditions and unhealthy working conditions.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Salt Commissioner’s Organization (SCO) monitors overall development of salt industry. This includes planning, facilitating technology up gradation of salt production process and conducting training programmes for salt workers. SCO is supplementing efforts of the State Governments in improving some facilities viz:

I. Construction of school rooms, jetty, labour rest sheds, protective bunds and roads to salt works.

II Supply of safety kits and bicycles, capacity building for transporting and storage of potable water, laying pipelines for supply of drinking water.

III. Augmentation of medical facilities in hospitals situated in salt producing areas viz. providing ambulance van, X-ray machines, constructions of rooms in the hospitals and conducting General Health Cum Eye camps for the salt workers in salt producing States.

(c) to (e): Some of the State Governments are implementing welfare schemes especially for the salt workers. State Government of Rajasthan is granting financial assistance for Registration and issuance of Identity Cards, Insurance Scheme, Providing gum boots, goggles and bicycles to the salt workers. State Government of Gujarat is implementing scheme for development of salt works and welfare of salt workers under which approach roads to salt works, jetty for export of salt, rest sheds, protective kits, mobile medical van, mobile ration van, supply of drinking water by pipelines and tankers, balwadi and anganwadi for salt workers, rooms for schools, computers, school uniforms, educational kits, scholarships for higher studies etc. are provided. In addition, the SCO also supports granting rewards to meritorious children of the salt workers every year and organizing annual sports meets for the salt workers. Financial assistance is provided on merit by the SCO as per the proposals received from State Governments/ Salt Manufacturers.

The State-wise details of expenditure incurred by SCO on welfare activities during the last three years are given below:

	(Figures in Rs.) Sl. No.	State	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14 1.	Gujarat	28,49,232	25,24,426	22,91,865 2.	Karnataka	11,500	8,500	14,000 3.	Maharashtra	1,89,000	1,64,572	1,80,202 4.	West Bengal	26,500	29,500	13,500 5.	Odisha	1,80,000	1,70,683	1,18,500 6.	Andhra Pradesh	9,70,897	6,13,326	10,55,500 7	Tamil Nadu	10,36,935	10,41,500	9,88,184 8.	Rajasthan	21,61,081	46,18,967	11,80,091 9.	Goa	4,500	-	4,500	Total	7429645	9171474	5846342