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Web-based technology to be introduced for Bengal unorganised sector workers
The Bengal Government’s Labour department is all set to introduce a web-based technology to help unorganised sector workers in availing benefits for their social security, given by the state government, without facing any inconvenience.
With introduction of the technology, the workers of the unorganised sector do not have to walk to the labour offices to get themselves to apply for the benefits including the State Assisted Scheme of Provident Fund for Unorganised Workers. They can do the same using the web-based technology for which they just need an internet connection.
At present there are 1.5 crore workers in the unorganised sector in Bengal. The huge numbers of workers are engaged in 80 to 85 different fields of work including building constructions, van rickshaw pullers, bidi workers, truck and auto-rickshaw drivers.
In the past five years, initiatives were taken to provide benefits of the state government to the maximum number of the workers. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had introduced Samajik Mukti Card. Using the same card, a worker of unorganised sector can avail all the benefits including medical, children’s education, allowances and compensations.
Till 2011, only 26 lakh workers from the unorganised sector had gotten enrolled by the erstwhile Left Front government to help them get the benefits. With efforts and several initiatives taken by the state government after the change of guard in the state, around 85 lakh workers have been enrolled and they have got Samajik Mukti Card. The process is on to provide the card to more number of workers so that they can avail all sorts of benefits.
Now with the initiative of the State Labour department to introduce the web-based technology, the workers will no more have to incur loss of even an hour’s earning in order to visit the nearest labour offices to get their work done. In case of any mistakes done while filling up the form, the person had to visit the office again. But with the introduction of the new system, they can fill up the forms online, can check the status of their application and at the same time and also track whether the amount that a beneficiary is supposed to get has been deposited in his or her account. The entire process will be a hassle free and fast. A worker will no more have to visit the concerned offices many times to get their work done. Moreover, the worker contractors can also avail the facility to apply for licence.
At present there are around 480 labour welfare facilitation centres and 68 regional offices of the state Labour department. With the introduction of the new system, the work of the respective zones under each offices will get expedited, the official said adding that soon all the 1.5 crore workers of the unorganised sectors will start deriving the benefits given by the state government.
