The State and Central governments have proposed to extend insurance cover to autorickshaw drivers under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008. The Group Accident Insurance Scheme will be implemented for 10,000 drivers in Vijayawada as a pilot project in the State.
Officials of the Labour and Transport departments and leaders of the Auto Workers’ Union are on the job of identifying the beneficiaries for the scheme to be launched by this month-end.
The Labour Department has asked the Auto Drivers’ Unions, affiliated to various political parties, to identify and certify the beneficiaries, who, in turn, will submit the application forms. The authorities concerned are organising awareness programmes to enlighten the drivers by distributing pamphlets for successful implementation of the project.
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Additional Commissioner (Labour) Y. Surya Prasad, at a meeting held here a couple of days ago, explained the benefits being extended by the government to the autorickshaw drivers and their family members under the scheme. The beneficiary has to pay a premium of Rs.100 and the Central government will pay Rs.100 for each person.
“A committee of workers’ representatives and the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (ACL) will be constituted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the insurance company for launch of the scheme,” said Mr. Prasad.
ACL D. Anjaneya Reddy said the Labour Department would set up counters at bus and railway stations, Benz Circle, Ramavarappadu Ring Road Centre, and Singh Nagar flyover to collect the application forms from June 19 to 22. The beneficiaries, aged between 18 and 59, are required to submit the application forms attested by the trade unions along with photocopies of voter ID card, Aadhaar card, driving licence, ration card, and the local area certificate.
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“Besides providing insurance for death or permanent disability, the government will extend a Rs.1,200 as annual education grant to the beneficiaries’ children from Class 9 up to Intermediate or ITI,” said Mr. Reddy.