TS CM Revanth Announces free Accidental Insurance, Medical Treatment for Gig Workers
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced free accidental insurance of Rs 5 lakh and free medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh under Rajiv Arogysri to gig workers, covering cab and autorickshaw drivers, food and groceries delivery agents and service professionals working with app-based companies as well as those who are privately employed.
The CM announced the launching a service-based app for gig workers, which is being developed by T-Hub on the lines of a taxi-hailing app. Revanth Reddy also promised to bring in legislation on the lines of the Rajasthan Gig and Platform Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act 2023, after interacting with gig workers at the Exhibition Grounds auditorium in Nampally to know their problems.
He said a welfare board for gig workers will be established soon which will take care of the implementation of all the welfare schemes meant for them.
AICC leader Rahul Gandhi had already assured that measures would be taken to provide jobs and social security for unorganised workers. The government will take a policy decision soon in this regard, he said.
Revanth Reddy announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia from the CM's Relief Fund (CMRF) to the family of a Swiggy delivery agent, Rizwan, who died after falling from the third floor of the apartment in January after he was chased by the dog of a customer.
Cab drivers and autorickshaw drivers, food delivery agents and others representing several app-based companies as well as private vehicle owners attended the meeting. They brought several issues to the notice of the CM.
They told him that the Maha Lakshmi free bus travel scheme for women launched by Congress government recently was affecting their livelihood as a significant number of women were not hiring autorickshaws, shared autorickshaws and cabs.
The CM assured that the government would look into their concerns and said that would soon come up with a plan to safeguard their interests.
Revanth Reddy reminded gig workers about Rahul Gandhi's meeting held on November 27 during the Assembly elections campaign in Hyderabad in which he promised to take measures for the welfare of gig workers if Congress was voted to power.
"The Congress came to power in the state and as promised we will take measures for the welfare of gig workers. The state government will take responsibility in providing social security." Revanth Reddy said.
He promised that the state government would study the existing policy in Rajasthan and introduce an effective law in the next Budget session in March 2024.
Revanth Reddy said, "Apart from eyeing profits, the organisations should also pay attention to the welfare of the workers and employees. The government will not hesitate to take stringent action against any organisation which ignores the welfare of workers.” With regard to the Rizwan case, Revanth Redy said: “The previous government did not provide any assistance to the bereaved family. The government should play a generous role during such incidents. I am giving instructions to the officials to collect his family details and provide Rs 2 lakh assistance from the CMRF.”
The CM asked the drivers, delivery executives and service professionals to submit their applications either in digital format or manually in the grama and ward sabhas being organised from December 28 to January 6 to avail of the welfare schemes. He assured that all the applications received in Prajavani will be resolved.
IT and industries minister D. Sridhar Babu, transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar, AICC secretaries Rohit Chaudhary, Mansoor Ali Khan, TPCC working president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud were present in the meeting.
