Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed that 50 more categories of unorganized employees be included in the Odisha Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Board Welfare Scheme.
The 50 new categories of beneficiaries of the board include:
- Tailors, embroidery artisans
- Bariks, employees working in spas, salons, and beauty parlours
- Maharana
- Fishermen
- Blacksmiths
- Railway coolies
- Potters
- Stone Carvers and assistants
- Lace-makers
- Sanitary workers
- Laundry and dry cleaners
- Weavers, handicrafts, and handicraftsmen
- Carpentry workers
- Folk art artists
- Painters/painters
- Butchers
- Gemstone workers and goldsmiths
- Hotels, restaurants, and Bricklayers
- Photographers and videographers
- Welders, welding assistants
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Toolmakers
- Dye makers
- Painters
- Mechanical and preparatory electrical equipment repairman
- Gardener
- Furniture repair worker
- Work assistant in grocery and household store
- Florist
- Tent house/decoration worker
- Trade union member
- Entertainers
- Musicians and singers
- Film operators/assistants
- Cinema hall booking clerks
- Workers engaged in making musical instruments
- All types of artisans
- Plantation workers, employed labourer
- Boatman/helper
- Snacks mixture factory worker
- Pickle, badi, papad maker
- Saw-mill worker
- Milk vendor
- Caretaker/housekeeper/bedside attendant
- Cake/candy maker
- Ice maker/Ice cream maker
- Dairy product maker
- Travel & tour guide
- Delivery boy
- Agricultural labourer, cultivator
The Chief Minister has enhanced the amount of aid available in the event of the accidental death of a registered worker from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Similarly, the amount of aid available in the event of natural death has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
It is worth noting that this board, which began operations in May 2017, serves about 3.65 lakh registered workers from ten different categories. This initiative will now assist 50 additional kinds of unorganized employees.