National Social Security Fund to be set up for unorganized sector workers

February 26th, 2010 - 5:25 pm ICT by ANI  

New Delhi, Feb 26 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday announced the formation of the National Social Security Fund for unorganized sector workers.

Mukherjee disclosed that National Social Security Fund will be set up for unorganized sector workers with an initial allocation of Rs. 1000 crore, to support schemes for weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers, bidi workers etc.

In the Budget address, Mukherjee stated that this has been done recognizing the need for providing social security to the workers in the unorganized sector, and as a follow up to the unorganized Sector Workers Social Security Act, 2008.

He also announced that the benefits of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) would now be extended to all such Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) beneficiaries who have worked for more than 15 days during the preceding financial year.

The scheme provides health insurance cover to Below Poverty Line (BPL) workers and their families, and so far more than one crore smart cards have been issued under this scheme.

Mukherjee also stated that a new initiative, Swavalamban, will be available for persons who join the New Pension Scheme (NPS), with a minimum contribution of Rs. 1,000 and a maximum contribution of Rs. 12,000 per annum during the financial year 2010-11, wherein the Government will contribute Rs. 1,000 per year to each NPS account opened in the year 2010-11.

An allocation of Rs. 100 crore has been made for this initiative.(ANI)

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