The Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha today in Reply to a written question whether Government has cleared to set up a National level Social Security Fund for unorganized workers commented on the salient features of the benefits covered under the proposed scheme; the value of proposed fund, names of the segments of unorganized workers and the form of social security to be provided under the fund; the number of workers to be benefited under the scheme; who will be the custodian of the fund/or any board or committee that has been constituted to administer the fund; and the time by when proposed fund is to be constituted.
The fund will support schemes for weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers, beedi workers etc.
The initial allocation of National Social Security Fund was Rs. 1,000/- crore in Budget 2010-11. In addition to this, in Budget Estimates for 2011-12, a provision of Rs. 500/- crore has been made for transfer to the National Social Security Fund. The number of workers to be covered under the scheme would depend on the target group to be covered and nature of social security schemes to be formulated.
Ministry of Finance is the custodian of the National Social Security Fund and the Ministry of Labour & Employment is the Nodal Ministry to administer the scheme.
