Bhubaneswar: In another step towards inclusive development, the Odisha Government today decided to draft a comprehensive action plan for the welfare of drivers working in the unorganized sector in the State.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra held in the conference hall of Lok Seva Bhawan here today, said an official press release.
Principal Secretary of Commerce and Transport Bishnupada Sethi outlined the legal and financial issues at the meeting.
Considering the different contours of the issue, Chief Secretary Mahapatra directed the Department to draft a comprehensive action plan from the perspectives of Odisha Motor Transport Workers Rules.
Mahapatra also directed to propose amendments to the existing rules for facilitating the rollout of welfare measures.
The departments of Commerce and Transport and Law were asked to examine details of the legal, financial, and administrative aspects for making the scheme smooth and seamless. It was decided to assess the number of drivers working in the transport organizations.
Transport Commissioner was asked to draft the scheme and required amendments in the Rules in about a week.
Principal Secretary Commerce & Transport Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary Finance Vishal Kumar Dev, Transport Commissioner Arun Bothra, along with senior officers from concerned departments participated in the deliberations. Secretary Labour and ESI Chitra Arumugam, and Labour Commissioner N Thirumala Naik joined the deliberation through video conferencing.
