The ruling BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre is committed to ensuring social security of labourers working in organised and unorganised sector, stated Union Minister of State for labour and Employment (Independent charge) Bandaru Dattatreya in Raipur on Monday.
He also criticised the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for allegedly ignoring the interest of labourers while interacting with the media persons here.
The ignorant attitude of the UPA was evident from the fact that it did not release scholarship for the children of Beedi workers for two years, he said, adding that UPA Government did not disburse scholarship to the children of Beedi workers for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14.
The BJP-led NDA Government at Centre has distributed scholarships to the children of Beedi workers altogether for three years, added the Minister.
According to him, series of issues including daily wage to labourers, their access to welfare schemes, timely payment to them and employment generation were discussed during the meeting. Meanwhile, representatives of coal miners were also called up to discuss challenges being faced by the coal mine workers in Chhattisgarh, the Minister said.
Officials enquired about minimum wages paid to coal mine workers, timely payment to them, their health related issues and others. It was decided at the meeting that local public representatives MP and MlAs, collectors will hold a meeting with labour Commissioner and labour inspectors to enquire about the actual situation of coal mine workers in different parts of the State. They will have to submit a report within next three months in this connection to the ministry.
He further informed that the ESIC is also going to serve some of the unorganised sector workers on a pilot basis to cater their social security needs. Staff Reporter