Cabinet approves compensation for agriculture accident victims

Bhubaneswar, Dec 01 (UNI) The government today approved the Orissa Dangerous Machines (Regulations) Act, 2007, to provide compensation to victims of agricultural accidents in the state.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Briefing newsmen after the cabinet meeting, state Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy said as per the Act an agricultural worker would get a maximum compensation of Rs 24,000 in case of death and Rs 20,000 in case of disability if he or she died or sustained injuries while operating the power thresher machine.

The amount of compensation would be decided as per wages fixed under the work man Act.

The rule would cover the manufacturer, the trader and the employer.

Under the Act a Controller would be appointed for the over supervision of the implementation of the Act.

The Chief Secretary said the Act had already been passed by Parliament in 1983 and the Union Agriculture Ministry asked the state governments to frame rules and issue notification under the act for its enforcement.

Mr Tripathy said the government felt the need to enforce the Act as 7,970 power threshers were operating in the state and several people had been injured while operating the machine.

The cabinet cleared the Annual Consolidated report 2005-06 of the Lok Pal with explanatory memorandum and the Orissa Local Fund Audit (Officers Rule) 2007.

The cabinet also decided to prorogue the Assembly which was adjourned sine die by Speaker Maheswar Mohanty on November 28 last, 18 days prior to its scheduled date.

UNI