TN: Rs 200 cr aid to unorganised labourers

Chennai, May 29: The DMK Government in Tamil Nadu has disbursed welfare benefits to the tune of Rs 219.47 crore to unorganised labourers through welfare boards, established to ensure social security to unorganised labourers in the State.

An official release here said that after the DMK Government assumed office in May 2006 and revived the welfare boards, it had disbursed welfare benefits to the tune of Rs 219.47 crore to 5,55,907 families.

The benefits were given as family pensions and cash assistance to meet educational and marriage expenses and solatium in the event of death of the members of the boards, it said.

A total number of 1,85,39,000 unorganised labourers have become members of the boards in the last two years, of which more than five lakh families have been benefited, the release said.

Through the welfare board constituted for farm workers, benefits of Rs 144.47 crore were distributed to 2,69,762 farm workers and their families till May four, the release said.

In the construction industry, more than one lakh labourers and their family members were given a benefit of Rs 30.47 crore in the last 24 months, it said.

UNI