NEW DELHI: The proposed legislation to provide social security to workers in the unorganised sector is expected to benefit close to 37 crore people.

According to a survey by the National Sample Survey Organisation in 1999-2000, the number of those employed in the organised and unorganised sectors was 39.7 crore.

Of this, 36.9 crore (93 per cent) were in the unorganised sector.

Some schemes are being implemented by the Central Government for specific groups in the unorganised sector such as beedi workers, non-coalmine workers, cine workers, handloom weavers and fishermen.

These are apart from the National Old Age Pension Scheme and the National Rural Health Mission.

Some State Governments are also implementing welfare programmes for certain categories of unorganised workers.

Deficit

However, there is a deficit in the coverage of the sector in matters concerning labour protection and social security.

Legislative cover for the unorganised sector has been in the offing for a long time now.

The National Democratic Alliance Government had drafted a bill.

Another bill was drafted by the National Advisory Council before the United Progressive Alliance constituted a National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector as an advisory body to look into this aspect.

Its terms of reference cover broadly the entire gamut of issues relating to the unorganised sector.

It came out with two draft bills, one on providing social security, including health insurance, and another on the working conditions.

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