An insurance scheme for drivers of private commercial vehicles was launched in the State with much fanfare in 2012.
But, the scheme has stuttered, stalled and now it encompasses less than half of the beneficiaries that was expected in the district.
Nearly 10,000 drivers enrolled in the Karnataka State Private Commercial Vehicle Drivers’ Accident Relief Scheme in the first year in the district, said officials at the Labour Department.
This was not close to the original target of 20,000 beneficiaries set by the district administration in January, 2013.
However, in March, 2013, the scheme came to a halt and was only resuscitated in July earlier this year.
D.G. Nagesh, Labour Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada, blamed the slow progress and delays on the private outsourcing agency, that had been given the responsibility of collecting and distributing the forms.
“The State government was unhappy with the work and progress and scrapped the outsourcing. There were problems with uploading the forms. The agency had not posted enough operators to handle the forms,” he said.
Since July, the Department itself is collecting the applications. However, with lack of awareness about the scheme, the officials have got just 50 applications so far.
Drivers of autorickshaws, taxis, maxi-cabs and other passenger vehicles, aged between 20 and 70, have to pay Rs. 25 (as registration fee to the State Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board) to avail the benefits.
In case of death, the kin of beneficiaries are assured of up to Rs. 2 lakh. Beneficiaries that have suffered permanent total disability will be given Rs. 2 lakh and up to Rs. 1 lakh can be reimbursed for hospital expenses, according to Mr. Nagesh.
Labour officials said autorickshaw drivers form nearly half of the expected beneficiaries. So far, around 6,000 autorickshaw drivers have been enrolled.
“Drivers have lost confidence in the scheme. It closes unannounced and it opens unannounced,” said Ali Hasan, honorary president of the Dakshina Kannada Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union.
