Question : BEEDI WORKERS

(a) the number of persons employed as beedi workers in the country at present, State-wise;

(b) the details of the schemes being run by the Government for the welfare of beedi workers;

(c) the details of the allocation made and the expenditure incurred under each of these schemes during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(d) whether any study has been conducted/proposed to be conducted to assess the impact of these schemes on the living standard of the beedi workers; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SIS RAM OLA)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 180 FOR 19.08.2013 BY SHRI BHISMA SHANKER ALIAS KUSHAL TIWARI AND SHRI BHOOPENDRA SINGH.

(a): Based on the information available with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the total number of Beedi workers in the Country is 60.93 lakhs. The State-wise details are at Annexure-I.

(b): The details of the schemes run for the Welfare of beedi workers are at Annexure-ll.

(c): the details of the allocation made and the expenditure incurred under each of the schemes during the last three years and the current year, State-wise, are at Annexure-ll I.

(d) & (e): No study has been conducted to assess the impact of these schemes on the living standard of the beedi workers. However, the schemes of health, education, recreation, housing, etc. have had good results.