Employeers in Thiruvanthapuram district who hire migrant labourers have been asked to ensure that they are enrolled in ‘Aawaz’ – the government’s health insurance scheme made exclusively for them.
District Labour Commissioner K Dileep Kumar confirmed that arrangements have been made at various places in the district for the labourers to get registered in the scheme. Beneficiaries of the scheme will get free health cover of Rs. 15,000 while the government will also provide insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh.
To get membership in Aawaz migrant labourers should produce Aadhaar card or Election identification card or any other valid identity proof. The labour officer has urged employers in the district to ensure that the workers are enrolled in the scheme and received their smart cards, reported The New IndianExpress.
The inititative is the first of its kind in the country to improve inclusivity for migrant labourers. It covers migrant labourers between 18 and 60.
The Kerala government is also in the midst of a plan to provide housing facilities to migrant labourers. The first housing project at Kanjikode was completed in January while similar facilities are being established in Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.
A study by Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation stated that there are around 25 lakh migrants in Kerala while recent state government estimates say the figure is closer to 10 lakh based on the registration of migrants for Aawaz health insurance scheme.
The Aawaz health insurance scheme was launched to create a comprehensive database of migrant labourers working in the state while also making them feel inclusive while working in the state. The migrant labourers can also use the Smart Aawaz card issued as part of the scheme as an identity card.