Govt to prepare national data on unorganised sector

Shrinking of unorganised sector is a "positive" indicator of development and the government will prepare a separate data on unorganised workers in India, Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The government has taken several measures towards the expansion of the organised sector, he said.

Responding to the supplementaries during Question Hour, the Minister said, "...Our ministry will prepare a national data on the unorganised sector." There is no separate published data for unorganised sector as a whole. "However, the shrinking of the unorganised sector is a positive indicator of development," he said in his written reply. Under the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) initiative, there has been a significant improvement in the registration of beneficiaries and as many as 1.2 crore employees benefitted in the last three years, he said.

The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act stipulates the formulation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers. Life and disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana to the unorganised workers depending upon their eligibility.

The health and maternity benefits are addressed through Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Recently, the government launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan to provide a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to the unorganised workers after attaining the age of 60 years, the minister added.