Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday directed officials to cover workers in 50 additional unorganised sectors to get social security benefits under the Odisha Unorganised Workers Social Security (OUWSS) Board, said a source.
With this decision, people working as delivery boys, potters, blacksmiths, pipe mechanics, tailors, barbers, fishermen, and those working in spas, beauty parlours, and saloons, among others, will be covered under the scheme, the source added.
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At present, workers in ten sectors such as street vendors, small shopkeepers, domestic help, rickshaw wallahs, auto drivers, agricultural workers, forest workers, newspaper hawkers, and sanitation workers are availing themselves of the facilities given under the scheme, the source said.
The Chief Minister hiked the assistance given to the next of kin of workers registered with the Board in case of death in accidents from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Similarly, the assistance given in the event of the natural death of a worker has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, the source informed.
According to the source, around 3.65 lakh workers registered with the board are getting the facilities launched May 1, 2017.
UNI