Labour Minister Santosh Lad at an awareness and smart card distribution programme for unorganised workers at Vivekananda Hall in Gadag on Friday.
Credit: DH Photo
Gadag: Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government is committed to improving the quality of life of unorganised sector workers, who make up around 90% of India’s working population and 82% in the state. As part of this effort, the Labour Department is distributing smart cards to provide social security to these workers.
He was speaking at an awareness and smart card distribution programme for unorganised workers held at the Vivekananda Hall here on Friday. The event was organised jointly by the Labour Department, Karnataka Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board, Transport Department, District Administration, and Zilla Panchayat.
“Under the Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hasta Scheme, 91 categories of unorganised workers have been identified, accounting for around 30 to 40 lakh workers in the state. These workers are being registered for free and issued smart cards, ensuring that government welfare schemes reach them. We need to create widespread awareness to ensure these benefits are availed,” said the minister.
Helmets
He further highlighted that nearly 50% of those dying in accidents are aged between 18 and 45 years. “To reduce such fatalities, wearing helmets and following traffic rules must be made mandatory,” he added.
Lad also mentioned that the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Board covers drivers, conductors, cleaners, and depot staff working in the logistics sector. Under this scheme, families of workers who die in accidents will receive a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, in addition to a phased implementation of other social security schemes, he informed.
“More funding is essential for labour welfare. We have requested the Chief Minister to impose a special cess on petrol and diesel. This could generate hundreds of crores of rupees for the welfare of unorganised workers,” he said.
Symbolic distribution
On the occasion, the minister symbolically distributed 25 smart cards, four accident compensation cheques, and one cheque under the Ashadeepa scheme to unorganised workers from the district.
Unorganised Workers Social Security Board Joint Secretary and Joint Labour Commissioner S B Ravikumar read the Preamble to the Constitution and explained the various government schemes available to workers.
Urban Development Authority Chairman Akbarsab Babarji, District-level Guarantee Scheme Implementation Authority Chairman B B Asuti, Taluk-level Chairman Ashok Mandali, Deputy Commissioner C N Sridhar, ZP CEO Bharat S, SP Rohan Jagadeesh, Krishna Gowda H Patil, Labour Officer Shreeshail Somanakatti, and Assistant Labour Commissioner Sachin Y Halemani were present.
A total of 1,548 smart cards were distributed to unorganised workers across different sectors in Gadag district.