Mandatory health insurance scheme for unorganised sector from Apr 1

New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) Keeping its commitment to provide social security to all segment of working communities, the Government has announced to make health insurance scheme mandatory for the unorganised sector from April 1.

Addressing a seminar on 'Knowledge of Pension and Retirement Schemes,' orgainsed by Assocham, Union Labour and Employment Secretary Sudha Pillai yesterday said the scheme would cover 1.6 crore workers of unorganised sector.

In subsequent years, nearly six crore workers will be covered, she added.

Under the scheme, the workers will get their family covered and will be given smart card by various fund managers in public and private sectors on payment of Rs 30.

These provisions have already been incorporated, particularly for unorganised sectors, in the pension reform bill which is likely to sail through in the Budget session of the Parliament, Ms Pillai said in a statement.

Due to the dangers involved in the nature of their jobs, workers engaged in mining, iron and ore sectors, beedi making and rickshaw pulling will also be protected under various social security schemes, on which the government is working out, she added.

To execute the scheme, Labour and Employment Ministry has already written a large number of states and union territories to gear up for it and work out suitable model piece, she apprised.

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