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| Chief minister Nitish Kumar launches the security scheme in Patna on Thursday. (PTI) |
Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday launched the Bihar Centenary Workers’ Social Security Scheme and stressed the need to deliver the benefits of the scheme to the labourers within a stipulated period.
For this, he underlined the need to bring the scheme — aimed at providing succour to labourers of the unorganised sector — within the ambit of Bihar Right to Service Act, 2011.
The chief minister said this was the first scheme of its kind in the country. “First, we promulgated the Bihar Rajya Pravasi Majdoor Yojana to help those labourers working outside the state. Now, we have introduced the Bihar Centenary Workers’ Social Security Scheme for the labourers of the unorganised sector working in the state,” Nitish said.
Under the scheme, if any worker of the unorganised sector, aged between 18 and 65, dies in an accident, his/her dependent would be given a compensation of Rs 1 lakh. In the case of disability, the dependent would be given Rs 75,000 and Rs 37,500 would be provided in the case of partial disability.”
Even in the case of natural death, the dependent of the worker would be provided Rs 30,000. Moreover, there is a provision for scholarship of Rs 1,200 per annum for two children of the worker if they are enrolled to a government polytechnic institute or Institute of Industrial Training.
As medical relief to the worker of unorganised sector, he or she would be provided Rs 7,500 to Rs 30,000 depending on the seriousness of the disease.
“A total of 88 types of diseases have been covered under the scheme,” the chief minister said. He added that the state government has also decided to provide relief to the workers engaged in building construction work.
Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said a number of welfare schemes have been launched for the deprived sections of society. Under the Bihar Rajya Pravasi Majdoor Yojana, 88 families have been provided relief by the state government. A sum of Rs 1.5 crore has been earmarked for 2012-13 under the scheme, he added.