Identity-cards for unorganised workers: Dasmunsi

New Delhi, May 24: The Union Cabinet today approved a Bill, to be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament, providing for social security cover and identity cards for unorganised workers above 18 years of age.

'The registered unorganised worker will be eligible for life and disability cover, health benefits, old age protection or any other benefit decided by the Centre,'' Information and Broadcating Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The identity card issued to him, after self-declaration that he is a worker in the unorganised sector, will carry a unique identification number and work as a smart card.

''It will enable the worker registered in Maharashtra to work in Punjab,'' Mr Dasmunsi said.

A National Advisory Board will be constituted to design, from time to time, suitable welfare schemes for different sections of unorganised workers and recommed them to the Centre.

On the recommendation of the Board, the Government will notify the schemes.

At the state-level, an advisory board will be constituted by the State Government.

''The welfare schemes will be introduced in a phased manner to fulfill the commitment made in the National Common Minimum Programme,'' the Minister said.

''It is a revolutionay step that will help about 370 million workers of the unorganised sector.'' Asked how much was going to be spent on the schemes, he said: ''Sky is the limit. But the large burden will be on the Centre.'' Apart from designing model schemes, the National Advisory Board will monitor the implementation of all notified schemes, ensure that every unorganised worker is registered and recieves an identity card, and also oversee the record keeping function performed at the district and state level.

The record keeping agency for the identity cards will be the district administration.

However, the State Government will direct that the record keeping function is performed by the district panchayat in rural areas and urban local bodies in urban areas.

UNI