Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JS/EP)

Udupi, Jan 11: “Registration of workers of 379 categories in E-Shram website to form social security schemes for unorganized sector and migrant workers is in progress. Everybody should get their names registered,” said deputy commissioner Kurma Rao.

He was speaking at the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday, January 11 while presiding over the meeting of various committees under the labour department.

“More than 38 crore workers are working in the country in the unorganized sector. Their number has exceeded 3 lacs in the district. Everybody should get their name, profession, address, educational qualification, skills, details of their families and bank account registered.”

“Registering their details in E-Shram will help them obtain the facilities that will be provided by the government in the future. Building and other construction workers, agricultural workers, fishermen, Asha workers, house workers, drivers, tailors, roadside vendors should get themselves registered,” he said.

The government has brought about a contribution based pension scheme for traders and self-employees. Shop owners between the age of 18-40, retail traders, owners of rice and oil mills, workshop owners, commission agents, real estate brokers, owners of small hotel restaurants and self-employees who have small businesses can benefit out of it,” he said.

“Officers should work to ensure that the district becomes free of child labour. Strict legal action should be taken against those who employ children below 14 years of age and such children should be rehabilitated,” he said.

“There are complaints that children are selling various toys during fairs and festivals. Officials should be alert about it. Employees are arriving from outside the district and the states to work in large scale building constructions of private companies. Their children are likely to be deprived of education. Make sure that they obtain education,” he said.

He suggested forming a task force presided over by the tahsildar at the taluk level to protect child labourers and visit the suspicious places every now and then.

Senior civil judge and member of District Legal Services Authority and secretary Sharmila, IAS officer under training Yathish, ASP Siddalingappa, district labour officer Kumar, various department implementation officers and representatives of workers from various categories were present.