CM: State preparing data on labourers who have migrated

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in the Assembly on Tuesday that the state government is preparing a comprehensive data about labourers who have migrated to other states from Bengal.

During a question-answer session in the Assembly Banerjee said that the Labour department has been asked to compile the data regarding the migratory labourers. The state government has taken the decision as it faced difficulties while tracing the whereabouts of some labourers who had migrated to other states for works. Once the data is prepared, the Labour department officials will be able to access information related to the labourers who returned to the state and those working outside. The data will help the state government to ensure that nobody is left out when it comes to availing the benefits of various schemes.

After the demonetisation was announced by the Centre, many labouers who went to other states became jobless and they eventually returned to the state. After considering the issue, the Chief Minister introduced 'Samarthan' scheme to ameliorate the condition of the people, especially from the unorganised sector, who had lost their jobs.

The Labour department has so far provided financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to 18,840 labourers from the state who had been affected due to demonetization.

The Bengal government made budgetary allocation for the purpose so that the labourers can start their own business to maintain their livelihood.

Any labourer, who is a permanent resident of Bengal, working in other states, and was compelled to return to Bengal after November 8, 2016 due to loss of job in that state and are eligible to avail the scheme.

While delivering his speech state labour minister Moloy Ghatak said that the Mamata Banerjee government had laid enormous stress on various social security schemes. Ghatak said around 20.43 lakh people have been brought under the ESI cover, up to March this year. They can avail benefits of the West Bengal health scheme in both state government run and private health facilities. One ESI hospital is coming up in Haldia and Siliguri each, Ghatak said.