Kerala's 'guest workers' to get Rs 2 lakh insurance cover

Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala is set to provide migrant labourers in the state with insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh along with other benefits. Kerala CM ensured that all arrangements have been made for medical assistance to them and the government was constantly engaging with the "guest workers", as he calls them, to ensure their well-being.

Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala introduces insurance scheme for the migrant labourers working in the state. The daily wage earners will given insurance coverage worth Rs 2 lakh and other benefits as announced by the labour department.

According to reports, complete details of all the existing workers in the state would be collected in order to ensure the welfare of the migrant labourers, who are now referred to by the Kerala government as ‘guest’ labourers in a more dignified manner. The process led by the ADGP will be carried out in 48 hours.

Identity cards would then be issued with which the guest workers can avail the Rs 2 lakh insurance coverage and other benefits announced by the administration.

The guest migrant workers are categorised into two: those employed on a contract basis and those who work independently. While providing food and other aid to them, those who stay independently should not be left out.

The scheme ensures that elected representatives of the local bodies and the officials must make sure that labourers are provided with proper food. A senior IAS official has been assigned to coordinate the efforts and the state has opened 4,603 camps where 1,44,145 guest workers are lodged.

Meanwhile, the vigilance department has been entrusted to keep a check on the exorbitant rise in the prices of essential commodities in the State. Currently, the availability of all the essential commodities has been raised.

Read:Covid-19 LIVE: India reports 1,834 cases, 41 deaths

Earlier, as migrant workers his the roads in the state violating lockdown, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said there was a conspiracy behind it and lashed out at "forces" which were trying to create unrest in the society by provoking the working class during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hundreds of migrant workers in Chenganassery in Kottayam district came out on the street, violating the 21-day lockdown restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, demanding that arrangements be made for their travel to native villages in northern states.

Kerala CM ensured that all arrangements have been made for medical assistance to them and the government was constantly engaging with the "guest workers", as he calls them, to ensure their well-being.

Kerala is currently running community kitchens which provide free cooked meals in locations across the state. In order to create awareness among the guest workers, brochures and short videos in Hindi, Odia and Bengali languages are being circulated.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases in Kerala reached 265 on Wednesday, including with two deaths reported so far.