Question : INSURANCE FOR UNORGANISED SECTOR WORKERS

(a)the number of workers presently working in unorganised sector in the country;

(b)whether the Government proposes to frame any long term policy to provide permanent employment to the workers in the unorganised sector of the country;

(c)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)whether the Government has implemented or proposed to implement any insurance scheme for such workers; and

(e)if so, the details thereof along with the total number of workers benefited/ likely to be benefited under the said scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL, MINES, LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT (SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a): As per the survey carried out by the National Sample Survey Organisation in the year 2011-12, the total employment in both organised and unorganised sector in the country was of the order of 47 crore. Out of this, about 8 crore were in the organised sector and the balance 39 crore in the unorganised sector.

(b) & (c): There is no such policy.

(d): Yes.

(e): The ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana’ was launched on 1st October, 2007 to provide smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000/- per annum to BPL families (a unit of five) in the unorganised sector. The scheme became operational from 01.04.2008. The premium is shared between Centre and State Government in the ratio of 75:25. In case of States of North East region and Jammu & Kashmir, the premium is shared in the ratio of 90:10. It is the endeavour of the Government to extend various other categories of unorganised workers viz. Building & Other Construction Workers, licensed Railway porters, Street Vendors, MGNREGA workers (who have worked for more than fifteen days during preceding financial year), Beedi workers, Domestic Workers, Sanitation Workers, Mine Workers, Rickshaw Pullers, Rag pickers and Auto/Taxi drivers. More than 3.85 crore families are covered under this scheme.