(a) whether the unorganised sector work-force of more than 40 crore are deprived of
the social security benefits in the absence of adequate National Social Security Fund;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)
(a) to (c): The Government has announced setting up of National Social Security Fund
for unorganized workers. Necessary steps are being taken to constitute the Fund.
The Government is committed to providing social security to all unorganized workers. Recognizing the
need to providing social security to unorganised workers, the Government has enacted the Unorganised
Workers’ Social Security Act 2008. The Act provides for constitution of National Social Security Board
at the Central level and State Social Security Boards at the State level which shall recommend formulation
of social security schemes for unorganised workers.
The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to provide smart card based cashless health insurance cover
of Rs. 30000 to BPL families ( a unit of five) in the unorganized sector. More than 2.31 crore BPL
families (a unit of five) have been covered as on 28.02.2010. The scheme has been extended to building
and other construction workers registered under the Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation
of Employment and Condition of Service) Act, 1996 and street vendors
The Government has launched the Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) to provide insurance against death
and disability. More than 1.67 crore lives have been covered under AABY as on 31.12..2010.
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension has been expanded by revising the criteria of eligibility.
All citizens above the age of 65 years and living below poverty line are eligible for benefits
under the scheme. 1.73 crore persons have been covered as on 30.11.2010. To expand the old age
protection cover, the Government has now proposed to reduce the age for eligibility of pension
from 65 years to 60 years and for the persons above the age of 80 years the amount is proposed
to be raised from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 per month.
In addition to above, the Government is implementing various social security schemes viz as Swarnjayanti
Gram Swarojgar Yojana, Swarnjayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme,
National Social Assistance Programmes Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 which
provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult
members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
The Government has constituted Welfare Funds for some categories of workers like beedi, cine and non-coal mine
workers in the unorganised sector. The Welfare Funds are utilized to provide for financing of measures to
promote the welfare of workers including women workers engaged in these occupations. The welfare measures
include health & medical care, insurance, housing, education, recreation, water supply, maternity benefits,
etc.