Workers in Forest Produce-Based Industries

The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the term ‘unorganized worker’ has been defined under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008 as a home-based worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the organized sector and includes a worker in the organized sector who is not covered by any of the Acts mentioned in Schedule-II of this Act i.e. (i) The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of 1923), (ii) The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), (iii) The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), (iv) The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), (v) The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (53 of 1961) and The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972). 

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that Government has already taken various steps to provide social security for the unorganized workers. Some of these schemes are listed as under: 

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development) 

2. National Family Benefit Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development) 

3. Janani Suraksha Yojana. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) 

4. Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles) 

5. Handicraft Artisans’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles) 

6. Pension to Master Craft Persons. (Ministry of Textiles) 

7. National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension. (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries) 

8. Janshree Bima Yojana and Aam Admi Bima Yojana. (Department of Financial Services). 

9. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. (Ministry of Labour and Employment). 

Uniform Labour Law

The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that “Labour” is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Thus, both the Centre and the States can legislate in this area. There are 44 labour related statutes enacted by the Central Government dealing with wages, social security, labour welfare, occupational safety and health and industrial relations etc., being enforced by Central and State Governments, as appropriate Governments, as envisaged in the respective Acts. Each Act has been enacted keeping in view its objectives which are defined in each Act and accordingly the definitions have been incorporated in the Acts. 

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that ministry is also addressing the issue of ease of compliance to promote an enabling business environment. A single unified Web Portal is being developed for Online Registration of Units, Reporting of inspections, and submissions of Annual Returns and redressal of grievances. This portal will facilitate ease of reporting at one place for various Labour Laws by a single online Annual Return; consolidate information of Labour Inspection and its enforcement thereby enhancing transparency in Labour Inspection as well as that in monitoring of Labour Inspections. An Inspection scheme has also been notified with the objective of simplifying business regulations and for bringing in transparency and accountability in labour inspections. The scheme envisages objective criteria for selection of Units for inspection. 

Survey Regarding Employment in Various Sectors

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics & Programme Implementation Shri Rao Inderjit Singh has said that as per the report based on the recent survey on Employment-Unemployment conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during July 2011 – June 2012, the State/UT-wise percentage of workers to total workers working in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sector as per usual status (ps+ss) is given in the statement at Annexure I.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Singh said, as per the report based on the last three surveys on Employment-Unemployment conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during July 2004 – June 2005, July 2009 – June 2010 and July 2011 – June 2012, the State/UT wise Proportion (per 1000) of workers working in manufacturing sector, to total number of workers, as per usual status (ps+ss) is given in the statement at Annexure II. 

Click here to see Annexure

SBI Launches Six of Digital Branches

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched six Digital Branches in the country on 1st July, 2014, one each at Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai and two branches at Bengaluru. Concept of Digital Branches by SBI is its own initiative, and further roll out would depend on the success of such branches opened. 

Setting up of National Fisheries Development Board

Government has set up a National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). The  objectives and functions of the Board are:

           

       (i) To bring major activities relating to fisheries and aquaculture for focused attention and professional management;

(ii)      To coordinate activities pertaining to fisheries undertaken by different Ministries/Departments in the Central Government and also coordinate with the State/Union Territory Governments;

(iii)  To improve production processing, storage, transport and marketing of the products of capture    and culture fisheries;

(iv)  To achieve sustainable management and conservation of natural aquatic resources including the fish stocks;

(v)    To apply modern tools of research and development including biotechnology for optimizing production and productivity from fisheries;

(vi)        To provide modern infrastructure mechanisms for fisheries and ensure their effective management and optimum utilization;

(vii)       To generate substantial employment;

(viii)   To train and empower women in the fisheries sector and

(ix)     To enhance contribution of fish towards food and nutritional security.

The functions of the Board are:-

(i)         To promote, plan and organize programmes for development of fisheries and aquaculture in consultation with States and UTs;

(ii)        Advise the States and UTs for formulation of policies and programmes for fisheries development;

(iii)       To institute award, fellowships, scholarship and to organize training for all stakeholders in the fisheries sector;

(iv)       Co-ordinate with private sector, banks, financial institutions etc. for promoting partnerships for development of the sector;

(v)        Explore indentify and promote national and international benchmarks and best practices for the development of fisheries sector;

(vi)       Adoption of new and innovative production technologies, sustainable management and utilization of less utilized water resources and proper marketing of products of capture and culture fisheries;

(vii)      To facilitate technology backstopping and other technical and financial assistance in implementing programmes and projects by States/UTs;

(viii)     To sponsor/ undertake studies to assess the impact of the programme and plans of food and nutritional security and

(ix)       To develop a framework for monitoring, evaluating and assessing impact of projects and programmes undertaken by State and Central Government.