Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Aided school teachers to come under ESI scheme

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government proposes to bring teachers and other staff of unaided schools under the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Scheme, Minister for Labour P.K. Gurudasan told the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a debate on the demands for grants for Labour and Labour Welfare and Excise departments, the Minister said more than 50,000 teachers and other employees would benefit if the proposal became a reality.

He said the Government was also planning to form a welfare fund for overseas Keralites. Pottery and gold workers would also be brought under a welfare fund scheme. Formation of an apex body combining various welfare fund boards was under consideration.

He said that the Government would bring legislation to ban child labour in the State, in consultation with the Centre. Prior to that, a survey would be conducted on children engaged in hazardous occupations. The proposed Trade Union (Recognition) Bill would be introduced in the House shortly. Legislation on plantation labour was awaiting Cabinet nod. Labour laws would be enforced in special economic zones.

Refuting criticism from Aryadan Mohammed (Congress), the Minister said that the minimum wages advisory committees would be formed shortly.

Sufficient funds were available for their functioning. The previous Government had not used the available funds.

The Government would protect the traditional industries and prove that they were still viable and relevant. Protection of the toddy shops was a policy of the Government. The abkari policy for the coming financial year would be announced by December. Allowing toddy shops to function on the first of every month would be considered.

Mr. Gurudasan said the sale of liquor by the State Beverages Corporation had increased by 20 per cent. This was not on account of increase in consumption, but because of efforts to check sale of illicit liquor.

He said compounding could not be introduced for major abkari offences. The Government had auctioned 269 vehicles seized under the Abkari Act and Rules. Nearly 1,375 vehicles remained to be auctioned.

He said the Government would press the Centre for bringing journalists working in the electronic media also under the purview of the Working Journalists Act. New industrial training centres could be started next year if the panchayats or MLAs could arrange for land, building and other facilities.

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