Labour dept to campaign to rope in more under SSY

Kolkata: The state Labour department is going to start a massive campaign soon to bring in more people from the unorganised sectors under Samajik Suraksha Yojana (SSY). The step has been taken after bringing in 92 lakh beneficiaries of different schemes under SSY.

According to a senior official of the state Labour department, there were 92 lakh people from the unorganised sectors who were enrolled under different beneficiary schemes. But they have been brought under SSY that ensures them all the benefits under one particular scheme.

"After completing the mammoth task of ensuring migration of such a large number of people from different schemes to SSY, the step was taken to introduce the online system using which one can register from any part to apply for the SSY without visiting the offices of the department. The online registration system has been introduced in October," the official said adding that now there is a plan to go for a massive campaign so that maximum number of people involved in different unorganised sectors get enrolled under the scheme and the online registration facility will also be a major component of the awareness campaign.

The official further said that the work to chalk out an elaborate plan to hold the state-wide campaign is going on. But it will be done through different forms of media.

It may be mentioned that SSY was introduced converging Social Security scheme for Construction Workers, West Bengal Transport Workers Social Security Scheme, State Assistance Scheme for Provident Fund for Unorganised Sector, West Bengal Unorganised Sector workers' Health Security Scheme, and West Bengal Bidi Workers Welfare Scheme. It has ensured similar benefits for all from the unorganised sectors.

Under the scheme, they get education benefits for their children, support for marriage of their two daughters, health cards and other benefits.

Since 2000, when five separate schemes were introduced, the Left Front government had managed to bring 23 lakh people from the unorganised sectors under the schemes. After the change of guard in the state, the total number of people came under the scheme went up to 92 lakh and it happened only in the past six years time.

With a target of providing social security to as many as number of workers from unorganised sectors, the state Labour department is now going for a massive campaign. "It sometimes happen that the people involved in unorganised sectors do not understand what actually they would benefit if they come under SSY. So, if the message reaches to their employers then a major task would be done as they can communicate the same to the person," the official said.