Other state labourers turn away 'Awaz'

Kottayam: Guest workers in Kerala, hailing from other states, are turning down a free insurance scheme proposed by the state government despite the keen efforts of the labour department to enroll them in the scheme. The migrant labourers are evading, Awaz, a free insurance scheme, meant for enumeration of the non-Keralite labourers.

So far, only 2.77 lakh labourers have got registered in the scheme, which was rolled out in last December, and was planned to enroll at least 10 lakh migrant labourers.

The department had claimed that all the labourers will be enrolled in the scheme within two months. However, even half of the target is not met even after the registration process has passed six months.

Of the registered, 2,61,080 are males, 15,815 females and 66 transgenders. Most of the registered labourers are from West Bengal, and those from Arunachal Pradesh are the lowest number to register themselves.

According to information collected by Gulati Institute, there are around 20 lakh migrant labourers in Kerala. Considering the figure, the government was planning to invite tender for the scheme once the enrolment cross 10 lakh.

The government proposed to pay premium amount in full to the insurance company without burdening the labourers or the employer. However, most of the targeted labourers are keeping away from the scheme.