Mangaluru: The labour Minister P T Parameshwar held a press meet at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on March 2.
Addressing the mediapersons, Parameshwar said that the state government has given importance to the youth to bring them into the main stream. “In the 2015-16 budget, the labour department has demanded to sanction Rs 1,100 crore for the skill development programme for youth who have completed their graduation and post graduation. In the state, to eradicate unemployment, we are launching ‘Multi trade system’. It is a first of its kind in the country.”
He further said that the labour department under the Rashtriya Swasth Bhima Yojana has identified 3.5 lakh BPL families who come under this scheme. “The CM had taken the decision in 2013 when there were 98 lakh BPL families. In the first phase, 43 lakh beneficiaries should be identified. So far, 40 lakh families have been identified. By the 1st week of March, we will reach the target. In the second phase also 45 lakh families have to be identified. In DK, we have the target of 1.5 lakh families; so far, we have identified 1.38 lakh families and distributed smart cards giving importance to their health.”
“Unorganised labour should also be identified and brought under the scheme. 7.5 lakh beneficiaries have been identified and registered.”
“We have collected Rs 451 crore as Cess in a year. The children of unorganised labourers should be admitted in reputed schools and brought into the main stream. The government will sign MOU with residential schools to provide them with quality education. The fees of the students who get admission for Medical and Engineering will be paid by the government. Such students will be given Rs 2000 allowance; PG and PhD students will be given Rs 2000 and Degree students will get Rs 1000 allowance. Medical expenses will also be borne by the government. ‘Multi purpose labour Welfare Centre’ will be constructed in all the districts in the state.”
“In DK, there are no child labourers and it is a model district in the state. Our aim is to make Karnataka a child labour free state. In DK district, 4 industrial training institutes were opened in Ullal, Kinnigoli, Kavalukatte and Puttur but due to lack of students, we were not able to operate those institutes. We have already instructed the concerned authorities to admit students in those institutes.”
“There is a problem in the ESI hospital. Recently, we had appointed 5 doctors but three doctors have already left for their home town. Unorganised labourers should get all the facilities; we are trying our best in this regard. Children of unorganised labourers should be admitted to school from this year.”
MLA Mangaluru South Constituency J R Lobo, Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, MCC Commissioner Hephsiba Rani, CEO ZP Tulasi Maddineni, Labour commissioner Dr Vishwanath, Asst labour Commissioner Nagesh and Director ESI Dr Sridevi were also present.