In a move that underscores the commitment to the welfare of unorganised labor, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Odisha has taken a proactive stride by extending the protective umbrella of the Odisha Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board Welfare Scheme to include 50 new categories of workers.
The array of new beneficiaries within the purview of the board’s welfare scheme includes:
- Tailors and embroidery artisans
- Bariks, encompassing workers from spas, salons, and beauty parlours
- Maharana
- Fishermen
- Blacksmiths
- Railway coolies
- Potters
- Stone carvers and their assistants
- Lace-makers
- Sanitary workers
- Laundry and dry cleaners
- Weavers and handicraftsmen
- Carpentry workers
- Folk art artists
- Painters
- Butchers
- Gemstone workers and goldsmiths
- Professionals from hotels, restaurants, and bricklaying
- Photographers and videographers
- Welders and welding assistants
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Toolmakers
- Dye makers
- Mechanical and preparatory electrical equipment repairmen
- Gardeners
- Furniture repair workers
- Assistants in grocery and household stores
- Florists
- Tent house and decoration workers
- Trade union members
- Entertainers
- Musicians and singers
- Film operators and assistants
- Cinema hall booking clerks
- Workers involved in crafting musical instruments
- Various artisans
- Plantation workers and employed laborers
- Boatmen and their helpers
- Workers in snacks mixture factories
- Producers of pickles, badi, and papads
- Sawmill workers
- Milk vendors
- Caretakers, housekeepers, and bedside attendants
- Cake and candy makers
- Ice and ice cream makers
- Dairy product manufacturers
- Travel and tour guides
- Delivery personnel
- Agricultural laborers and cultivators
Notably, Chief Minister Patnaik has amplified the financial support provided to the kin of registered workers in case of unfortunate incidents. The assistance amount for accidental deaths of workers registered under the board has been elevated from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Correspondingly, assistance for natural deaths has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
This laudable initiative reiterates the state’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the well-being and security of its unorganised workforce, while striving to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for diverse professions.
Prasanta Patnaik