(a) whether the beedi workers are aware of the beneficial schemes being run by the Union Government;
(b) if not, the measures taken by the Government to create awareness among the beedi workers about such beneficial schemes;
(c) whether the Government has fixed any time-frame for payment of claims under the welfare schemes for labourers; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT (SHRI K. CHANDRASEKHAR RAO)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 287 for 14.08.2006 asked by Shri Chandrabhan Singh, MP.
(a) & (b): The Government is making necessary efforts to generate awareness among the beedi workers by organizing the campaigns for awareness generation and health check up from time to time at places where there is concentration of such workers. The Labour Welfare Organisation in coordination with the offices of Central Board of Workers Education of the Ministry of Labour & Employment launches such campaigns to make the beedi workers aware of the welfare schemes. Booklets/pamphlets containing details of such schemes are distributed during these campaigns. Wide publicity of these schemes is also made through newspapers and on All India Radio(AIR) network. 200 dispensaries and several hospitals being run for beedi workers all over the country also display in vernacular the details including salient features of various welfare schemes for beedi workers.
(c) & (d): It is the endeavor of the Government to settle the claims expeditiously on receipt of complete proposals from the beneficiaries.