Question : INSURANCE COVER TO MGNREGS WORKERS

(a) whether it is the policy of the Government to provide insurance cover under Jan Shree Bima Yojana for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers;

(b) if so, the total number of MGNREGS workers covered under Jan Shree Bima Yojana during the last three years and the current year, State-wise and year wise;

(c) whether all workers of MGNREGS covered under the Jan Shree Bima Yojana;

(d) if not, whether the Government initiate effective measures to bring all MGNREGS workers under insurance cover; and

(e) if so, the details thereof alongwith other welfare scheme being provided or proposed to be provided to MGNREGS workers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)

(a) to (d) : Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers/beneficiaries have been included in `Rural Poor` category under Jan Shree Bima Yojana (JBY). Under JBY, 50% of the total premium is to be paid by the beneficiary/nodal agency/State Government. Therefore, the scheme becomes optional for a worker. As per reports available, JBY has been made operational in Andhra Pradesh and 8 lakh NREGA workers have been covered under the scheme.

(e): Hon`ble Finance Minister while presenting General Budget 2010-2011 in Parliament, proposed to extend Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA beneficiaries who have worked for more than 15 days during preceding financial year. Ministry of Labour and Employment has accordingly moved a Cabinet Note in this regard on which comments of the Ministry of Rural Development have already been sent.