Bhubaneswar: Firing yet another salvo at his detractors before the start of the winter session of the Odisha Assembly tomorrow, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a social security scheme for newspaper hawkers keeping in view their role and struggle to keep people connected with news.
According to the scheme, newspaper hawkers registered with Odisha Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board (OUWSSB) will be provided with social security. Under the scheme in the event of death of a newspaper hawker due to accident, an assistance of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of the deceased and in the case of natural death, an assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided.
Similarly, on permanent disability due to accident, a newspaper hawker will get an assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh, and in case of partial disability (loss of both limbs) the person will get an assistance of Rs 80,000 and in the case of partial disability (loss of one limb) the person will get an assistance of Rs 40,000.
Further, in view of them passing through economic hardship due to Covid, it has been decided to provide special assistance of Rs 3,000 each to all registered newspaper hawkers in two phases.
The assistance will be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
As often newspaper hawkers face problems in their work and in order to remove those, the State government has decided to construct provide suitable work sheds for them at the sub-division and district level.
The Chief Minister has directed the Information & Public Relations Department to manage a digital database of hawkers at the State and district levels and verify these hawkers at the district level and provide them with identity cards.
