Beedi workers to get higher housing subsidy, EPF cover too

Beedi workers are in for a bit of much needed help from the Union government.

An increase in housing subsidy and cover under the EPF and ESI are on the anvil. The housing subsidy will be hiked to ₹1.5 lakh from the existing ₹40,000.

EPF services The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment is planning to construct 10,000 houses for beedi workers in Telangana. The Ministry is also firming up opportunities to provide the services of Employees Provident Fund and ESI facilities to those employed in beedi sector, which is quite large in the newest State.

All the beedi workers’ hospitals located in the State would be merged with the ESIC Hospitals. First upgraded hospital will be constructed in Nirmal, Adilabad, according to Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of Labour & Employment.

Under the Social Security Scheme, 18 lakh contract labourers will be covered under the services of ESIC.

In this regard, a decision has to be taken after consulting the ESIC board officials, he told newspersons here on Saturday.

The Ministry has proposed to set up three 100-bedded hospitals in Ramagundam, Warangal and Ghoshamahal (Hyderabad), if the State government allocates land.

He held a review meeting with the Telangana State Labour Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy and other officials of the Central Labour Ministry.

He said the ESIC dispensaries at Tandur, Doulatabad, Khammam, Suryapet, Maheswaram, Siddipet and Kalvakurthy would be upgraded to six-bedded hospitals. Each hospital will be provided ₹10 crore for construction and infrastructure facilities.

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