Kerala establishes welfare board for workers

Subject : Polity

Kerala set up a welfare board for the workers of employment guarantee schemes in the state.
At least 26.71 lakh labourers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme and 2.5 lakh workers of the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme will receive the benefits of the newly formed welfare board.
Kerala became the first state to have a welfare board for the beneficiaries of employment guarantee programmes in the country.

Benefits ensured via welfare board

Members of the welfare board will receive benefits, including pensions after reaching 60 years of age.
Workers in the age group of 18-55 can join the welfare board. A monthly share of Rs 50 has to be paid
If beneficiary dies, pension will be dispensed to their kin.
Financial assistance for family,if beneficiary dies due to illness or accident
Financial aid for beneficiaries affected by critical illness.
Financial assistance for women members for marriages, maternity benefits and support for education of children.

Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme

Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (AUEGS), launched in 2010, aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in urban areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to an urban household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.