September 9, 2019
Samajik Suraksha to the aid of unorganised workers
The flagship social security scheme of the Trinamool Congress Government, Samajik Suraksha Yojana (SSY) has been a big success this year.
A total of 1.10 crore workers from various unorganised sectors have registered themselves under the scheme, for whom the government has spent Rs 1,530 crore, according to a recent statement by the Labour Minister in the Assembly. Most of the registrations took place at the Sramik Melas organised across the State in the early part of the year.
The registered workers get a Samajik Mukti Card each to avail the benefits of the scheme, which include provident fund, health insurance (provided under Swasthya Sathi Scheme), death and disability benefits, financial assistance for the education of the children of beneficiaries, and training in safety and skill development (provided through the Paschim Banga Society for Skill Development).
The new and consolidated Samajik Suraksha Yojana for unorganised workers was notified on April 3, 2017. The five existing social security schemes for unorganised workers, namely, State Assisted Scheme of Provident Fund for Unorganised Workers (SASPFUW), West Bengal Unorganised Sector Workers’ Health Security Scheme (WBUSWHSS), Social Security Scheme for Construction Workers (BOCWA), West Bengal Transport Workers Social Security Scheme (WBTWSSS) and West Bengal Beedi Workers’ Welfare Scheme (WBBWWS), were combined to create this new scheme.
Flagship scheme for security of workers from all unorganised categories
Registered workers: 1.10 crore
Money spent on them: Rs 1,530 crore
