Bhubaneswar: In a major decision that will assure social security of lakhs of unorganized workers of the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved the inclusion of another 50 categories of unorganized workers under the Odisha Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Board.
The State Government is committed to the welfare of the unorganized working class and the poor people. A number of schemes are being implemented for their social security.
Assistance is being provided to the beneficiaries through Odisha Unorganized Workers Social Security Board. Currently, ten categories of people like hawkers, small shopkeepers, domestic helpers, rickshaw pullers, auto drivers, cobblers, agricultural workers, forest workers, newspaper hawkers and cleaners are getting benefits under the welfare scheme of the Board.
Today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered for the inclusion of 50 more categories of unorganized workers in the welfare scheme of this Board. The fifty new categories of workers include – (1) Tailors, embroidery artisans, (2) Barbers, employees working in spas, salons and beauty parlours, (3) Carpenters, (4) Fishermen, (5) Blacksmiths, (6) Railway coolies, (7) Workers engaged in loading and unloading of goods, (8) Potters, (9) Stone Carvers and Assistants, (10) Lace Makers, (11) Sanitation Workers, (12) Laundry/Dry Cleaners, (13) ) Weavers, handicrafts and handicraftsmen, (14) Carpentry workers, (15) Folk art artists, (16) Painters (17) Butchers, (18) Gem workers and goldsmiths, (19) Workers engaged in Hotels, restaurants and bars (20) Photographers and Videographers, (21) Welders, Welding Assistants, (22) Electricians, (23) Plumbers, (24) Tool Makers, Dye Makers, Painters, (25) Mechanical and Preparatory Electrical Equipment Repairmen, (26) Gardeners, (27) Furniture Repair Workers, (28) Workers engaged in assisting in Grocery and variety Stores, (29) Florists, (30) Tent house/Decoration Workers, (31) Band Party Members, (32) Entertainers, (33) Musicians and singers, (34) Film operators/assistants, (35) Cinema hall booking clerks, (36) Musical instrument workers, (37) Artisans of all kinds, (38) Plantation workers (39) Boatmen/Helpers, (40) Snacks and Mixture Factory Workers, (41) Pickle, and Papad Makers, (42) Saw-mill Workers, (43) Milk Vendors, (44) Caretakers/ House Keepers/Bedside Attendants, (45) Cake/Candy Makers, (46) Ice Makers/Ice Cream Makers, (47) Dairy Product Makers, (48) Travel & Tourist Guides, (49) Delivery Boys, (50) Agricultural Labourers and Cultivators.
The Chief Minister has also ordered for increase in the assistance to the registered beneficiaries in case of accidental from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.4 lakh. Similarly, the assistance in case of natural death has been increased from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2 lakh.
It is worth mentioning that about 3.65 lakh registered workers of 10 categories are currently getting benefits through this Board which started in May 2017. Now, 50 more categories of unorganized workers will benefit from this scheme.