from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jul 31: Unorganised sector in Goa will now get the protection under Sahara scheme, a joint initiative of state government and Life Insurance corporation (LIC).

Goa government on Monday formally signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for – Sahara – aimed to benefit unorganised sector in the state.

"Sahara scheme would cover 30,000 beneficiaries and their families engaged in unorganised sector," social welfare minister, Subhash Shirodkar, stated.

Speaking to media after signing MoU with LIC, the minister said that the scheme goals to provide security cover in case of death of earning member of the family and also   provide financial assistance to their children to complete the education upto twelth under "Siksha Sahayog Yojana."

This is an unique scheme and first of its kind in the country, Shirodkar said.

The professionals of age group between 18 to 60 years and involved in the professions like motorcycle pilot, car, truck, rickshaw, tempo, taxi drivers, cleaners, toddy tapers, carpenters, masons, small business traders, fish vendors, vegetable sellers, pot makers, traditional artisans, agriculture labourers, coconut pluckers are eligible for the scheme, he added.

The beneficiaries would be able to avail the benefit by paying one time premium of just Rs 50 to the local block development officer. Shirodkar stated that the scheme will be executed through local panchayats.

Clubbing Siksha Sahayog Yojna with this scheme, the children of the members of  "Sahara'' who are studying in ninth and eleventh standard would be paid Rs 300 per quarter, the minister stated.