Close on the heels of launching a social security scheme for the workers engaged in the construction sector, the Orissa government is mulling to set up a Social Security Board (SSB) for unorganised workers.
The state labour and employment department has sent the proposal to the government for approval after which it will be sent to the law and finance department for vetting.
The proposed board will suggest schemes on social security to various government departments and will review the progress of their implementation.
It will also be vested with the authority to implement the social security schemes if the government empowers the board to do so, official sources said.
The Social Security Board is proposed to have 7 representatives each from employers, employees and the state government. While 2 MLAs will find place in the board, five eminent persons chosen from different fields of activity will be nominated to the board.
The secretary in the labour and employment department will be the member secretary of the board and the minister for labour and employment will be the chairman. As a forward looking measure, the government also plans to introduce an insurance scheme for the social security of the workers engaged in the transport sector. It will be in line with one insurance scheme introduced for the workers engaged in the construction sector. These workers include drivers, helpers and conductors working in bus, trucks and other small vehicles.
The annual premium will be shared by the workers, the employers and the state government and in certain cases by the Central government with the beneficiary contribution expected to be about Rs 1000 to Rs 2000.
The proposed scheme will cover risks like prolonged unemployment, sickness, disability, death, pension, loans for education and marriage among others, sources added.