Of late, the government has been more concerned about the issues of women working in various garment factories in and around Bengaluru.
The Department of Labour has started distributing iron and folic acid supplements to 3.5 lakh women workers to tackle anaemia.
According to a recent survey, an approximate 65 per cent of the women in garment sector suffer from anaemia. Over 11 lakh supplements had been distributed among them so far, Minister of State for Labour P.T. Parameshwara Naik said.
Similarly, they will get free transport facility shortly. This scheme was envisaged to address the alleged ‘sexual harassment’ faced by women workers in the hands of private transport operators.
“The scheme will be launched immediately after gram panchayat elections, probably in the first week of June,” Mr. Naik told media persons here on Monday. The scheme will be extended to Mysuru division in the second phase. It has been decided to extend the facility to all women working in garment sector across the State in the third phase.
Managements have agreed to bear the approximate transportation cost of Rs. 1,050 per employee. Labour Department and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation have identified routes for plying buses regularly.
RSBY scheme
Karnataka tops the country in the implementation of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) by registering 65 lakh labour families of the total 98 lakh below the poverty line families in the State. While the Centre bears 75 per cent of the cost, the State government takes up the rest. The scheme envisages cashless health insurance cover for a BPL family up to Rs. 30,000 a year on hospitalisation. The household has to pay Rs. 30 a year. “We have issued smart cards to all the families registered,” Mr. Naik said
6.50 lakh construction workers registered with welfare board in last two years
Rs. 1,600 crore collected in form of cess from the Urban Local Bodies
