Labourers, rickshaw pullers and workers in the unorganised sector across the state will soon benefit from a host of welfare schemes for their social security.

The Uttar Pradesh State Legal Service Authority (UPSLAA) is preparing the recommendations under the Centre’s Unorganised Workers Social Security Act (UWSSA), 2008.

This comes after the state government passed orders to ensure that workers of the unorganised sector get benefits from the existing government schemes.

The member of UPSLAA, J Sridevi, said: “This is the first ever act which will not just give medical benefits to the workers, but also other benefits like old age pension and educational facilities for their children.”

The act allows the state government to provide benefits like provident fund, life and disability cover, maternity benefits, employment injury benefit, housing and skill upgradation of workers, with either partial or complete grant support from the Central government.

“We have already identified around 10 schemes of the Central government under which the workers can be benefited till the time the state launches a specific scheme for them,” said Sridevi.

The schemes include Janani Suraksha Yojna, Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna and Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension, added Sridevi.

The act, which was passed by the Government of India in 2008, aims at bringing people like daily wage labourers, masons, workers at construction sites and also rickshaw pullers, under the social security cover.

The act has been implemented across the country and the state governments are now framing their rules in accordance with the number of sectors which employ unorganised workers in their state.

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