Odisha expands coverage of social security scheme for unorganised workers

The Odisha government expands its social security scheme to cover 50 more categories of workers, including delivery boys, boatmen, and photographers. The scheme provides financial assistance in case of accidental or natural death.

Updated on: Aug 2, 2023, 21:01:23 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Wednesday expanded the coverage of the state’s social security scheme to cover 50 more categories of workers including delivery boys, boatmen, pickle and papad makers, saw-mill workers, travel and tour guides, photographers and milk vendors.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik (PTI File)

The scheme, which started in May 2017, currently covers about 3.65 lakh registered workers of 10 categories of workers such as domestic helpers, transport workers, roadside vendors and rickshaw pullers among others, officials said.

Officials said chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also increased the ex-gratia assistance in case of accidental death of workers registered under the Odisha Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board Welfare Scheme from ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh.

Similarly, assistance in case of death due to natural reasons has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh. Other categories of workers included in the scheme are carpentry workers, folk artists, painters, butchers, gemstone workers, goldsmiths, welders, potters, railway coolies, electricians and bricklayers.

In December 2021, the state government announced social security scheme for newspaper hawkers under which newspaper hawkers were provided assistance of ₹1.5 lakh in case of permanent disability, ₹80,000 in case of partial disability (loss of both limbs) and ₹40,000 in case of loss of one limb.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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