INSURANCE COVERAGE OF WORKERS

INSURANCE COVERAGE OF WORKERS

QUESTION

(a) whether the Government has planned to increase the coverage of insurance scheme for workers to six crore by 2013-2014;
 
(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the increased coverage of insurance scheme will benefit the workers in many ways; and
 
(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
 
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)

(a)to(d): As per BPL survey, 2002, there are about 6 crore estimated BPL families (a unit of five) in the unorganised sector. Initially, it was proposed to cover all the 6 crore BPL families under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) providing for smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30000 per family per annum. However, the experience shows that only about 60% of BPL families become available for enrolment. As such about 3.6 crore BPL families are to be covered under the scheme. It is the endeavour the government to cover all such families by 2012-13.