Planning Commission okays Beedi Housing Scheme

New Delhi, Jan 4: The Planning Commission has approved a Beedi Housing Scheme for which a token allocation of Rs 5 crore has been made during the current financial year.

Meanwhile, the expenditure on welfare scheme for Beedi workers witnessed about three-fold increase during the last five years to stand at Rs 133.29 crore in 2005-06 from Rs 53 crore in 2001-02, according to an official statement released here today.

In order to meet the increase in expenditure, welfare cess on Beedis has been increased from Rs 2 to Rs 5 per thousand beedis from April 1, 2006, it said.

This has led to an increase in the amount of welfare cess from Rs 70 crore to more than 150 crore during the year. This amount is to be used for the welfare of Beedi workers.

The government has also liberalised the grant under the housing scheme for Beedi workers.

UNI