Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday launched a welfare scheme for the transport workers in the state. Under this scheme, every transport worker after attaining 60 years of age will get a monthly pension. Besides, the scheme will offer a series of other benefits to the transport workers. Nearly, 15 lakh unorganised transport workers in the state will get benefit of this scheme.
State labour minister Anadi Sahu claimed that West Bengal was the first state in the country which had taken such an initiative. “Transport is a very important sector in providing employment but the Centre has no national policy for the transport workers,” he said.
Under this welfare scheme, if a transport worker gets killed in an accident, his or her nominee would get a one time special grant of Rs one lakh. Transport workers will also get money for the treatment of diseases like TB, cancer, AIDS etc. “The transport workers will get monetary support for their children education, girl’s marriage and even in buying spectacles,” Mr Sahu added.