An insurance scheme that covers one crore workers in case of accidental death is on the cards, while the proposal on enhancing accidental death relief from the existing Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh will be implemented in a fortnight, Minister for Labour K. Atchannaidu has said.
The Minister disbursed death relief amounting to Rs. 1.07 crore to 569 beneficiaries from Krishna district here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, he said the government would earmark up to Rs. 200 crore for the insurance scheme. Under the new scheme, the entire amount (Rs. 5 lakh) will not be paid to the beneficiary at once. Instead, they will be paid Rs. 2 lakh, while the remaining Rs. 3 lakh will be deposited in their bank accounts, and Rs. 2,500 will be paid every month.
Mr. Atchannaidu said the government would soon launch an exclusive scheme for drivers, under which Rs. 5 lakh would be paid as death relief. Vijayawada East MLA Gadde Rama Mohan said that Rs 2 lakh as death relief was not adequate. The need for workers in the construction industry to develop required skills was being addressed by the State Government.Labour Department Joint Director M.S. Varahala Reddy said 1.72 lakh workers had registered with the department, and that building cess amounting to Rs. 100 crore had been collected so far.
