Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the State government is committed to ensuring the welfare of workers in the unorganised sector and it is in the process of implementing various schemes that provide social security and help improve their living standards.
He was addressing a gathering after symbolically distributing smart cards to workers in the unorganised sector at Kandagal Hanumantharao Rangamandir in Vijayapura on Wednesday.
Mr. Lad said that the State government has identified 91 categories of unorganised sector workers who are not economically and socially strong.
“Our objective is to ensure that the benefits available to the workers of organised sectors are also made available to workers of the unorganised sector. So, we are bringing them under various schemes and for the purpose, smart cards are being issued,” he said.
The Minister said that the State government has already promulgated an ordinance to facilitate the implementation of social security schemes. He then listed out the various categories of workers under the unorganised sector who will benefit by the schemes launched by the State government.
He said that so far 25,45,607 workers have registered themselves with the State government. In Vijayapura, 1,02,971 workers have registered themselves and they are being issued smart cards. The Minister also said that the State government is providing various facilities to different sections of society through the guarantee schemes.
Nagathan MLA Vitthal Katakadhonda called upon workers to improve their living standards by availing of the benefits under the welfare schemes meant for them.
On the occasion, 15 workers of the unorganised sector were symbolically issued smart cards. Benefits of other schemes were also distributed among a few beneficiaries.
Chairman of the Karnataka Bal Vikas Academy Sangamesh Babaleshwar, Deputy Commissioner Anand K., Joint Commissioner of Labour and Joint Secretary S.B. Ravikumar and other officials were present.