New Delhi (PTI): In an election year, an ambitious bill aimed at ensuring social security to and welfare of the workers in the unorganised sector was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The passage of the bill saw several official amendments being adopted while two amendments moved by CPI(M) member Tapan Sen, which were pressed for division of vote, were defeated.

The bill incorporates around a dozen welfare schemes for the unorganised workers which includes health insurance, group accident scheme, saving-cum-relief scheme and family and old age benefit schemes.

Earlier, taking part in the debate, Sen, a trade union leader, demanded that the bill be passed only with amendments so that "not only the workers falling under BPL but all the unorganised workers come under its purview."

Sen also demanded allocation of Central funds for the execution of the schemes brought under the ambit of the Bill.

"It is a package without content...the package do not have enforceability. The enactment would merely become a page in the statute book, since it has no funding arrangement and the BPL restriction should be withdrawn," Sen said.

Replying to the debate, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes said,"this is just the first step. This is not everything. We had planned to bring it much earlier but twice the House had to be adjourned sine die."

The exclusion of the workers above poverty line is only in one of the schemes, the Minister clarified before moving the bill for the support of the Upper House.