Ministry of Labour & Employment Reviews Welfare Achievements for Beedi, Cine, and Non-Coal Mine Workers

The Ministry of Labour & Employment held a review meeting on the achievements under the Labour Welfare Scheme (LWS) for Beedi, Cine, and Non-Coal Mine Workers in Delhi on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Healthcare Benefits

The ministry stated that healthcare facilities were provided through 10 hospitals and 279 dispensaries across 18 Labour Welfare Organisation (LWO) regions. In FY 2023-24, 1,802,000 Beedi, Cine, and Non-Coal mine workers and their dependents benefited, with an expenditure of Rs 8.50 crore.

Educational Assistance

Financial assistance was provided for the education of workers’ wards, covering various levels from primary to professional courses. This was implemented through the National Scholarship Portal and disbursed via the DBT-APB method. In FY 2023-24, 96,051 wards benefited, with a total expenditure of Rs 30.68 crore.

Future Initiatives

The Secretary emphasized the need for continuous efforts to enhance the welfare of these workers. She urged officials to work collaboratively and explore new initiatives for expanding social security. The Centre has directed all states and UTs to extend social security coverage under various schemes like PMJJBY, PMSBY, and AB-PMJAY. The ministry is also working on building a comprehensive database to assess coverage and onboard all workers on the E-Shram portal.