Welfare of Sanitation Workers
05/December/2016
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3048
ANSWERED ON:  05.12.2016
Welfare of Sanitation Workers
SHASHI THAROOR
 
Will the Minister of



LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-


(a)whether the Government has formulated schemes for sanitation workers under the unorganised workers Social Security Act, 2008, on matters relating to life and disability cover, health insurance, maternity benefits and old age protection;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)if not, the reasons therefor;
(d)whether the Government proposes to develop organization training programmes for sanitation workers to equip them with skills to use protective gear and other cleaning equipments for their safety;
(e)if so, the details thereof; and
(f)if not, whether the Government proposes to develop organization training modules and direct States/Union Territories to implement them?


ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) to (c): In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector including sanitation workers, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. This Act stipulates formulation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover, (ii) health and maternity benefits, (iii) old age protection and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government through the National Social Security Board. 
(d) to (f): The Government implements Sanitation Workers Rehabilitation Scheme, Under this scheme a term loan is provided through State Channelizing Agencies, Regional Rural Banks and Nationalized Banks to the target group who are doing sewerage/drainage work in unhygienic working conditions to do the cleaning work mechanically instead of manually for purchase of various sanitation based equipments like Vacuum Loader, Garbage Disposal Vehicles, Suction Machine and Pay & Use Toilet for doing sewerage/cleaning work mechanically & other sanitation related income generating activities etc.


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