VIJAYAWADA, AUG 29 : Observing that the safety and welfare of workers is the top priority of the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state, the Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, made it clear on Thursday that the rights of the workers should be protected and that industries should not be harassed under illogical regulations.

Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday organised a review meeting of the Labour Department, during which he directed the officials of the wing not to compromise on the safety and security of workers. The Chief Minister is very keen that a third-party audit be conducted with regard to the safety standards of factories.

Making it clear that the ESI hospitals will be strengthened, the Chief Minister announced that the state share of funds will be released soon for this purpose. Chandrababu regretted that the Chandranna Bheema scheme, which was in force before 2019, was totally invalidated by the YSRCP government.

Not only the number of beneficiaries has been reduced drastically, but also the amount of compensation was reduced unduly, he said. “We will soon launch a scheme with an insurance amount of Rs 10 lakh,” Chandrababu announced. Safety and security of those who are working for factories is the highest priority of the NDA government, the Chief Minister said.

Chandrababu made it clear that the management of factories should move forward with a perfect action plan on the safety of the workforce. The Chief Minister also directed the officials of the Labour Department to take stringent action against the management if any accident takes place in that company due to negligence.

The Minister for Labour, Vasamsetti Subash, informed Chandrababu that the number of employees taking the ESI services has increased from five lakh to 11 lakh between 2014 to 19, but the number has come down drastically after the YSRCP came to power.

Though there are clear guidelines that a senior doctor should be the superintendent of the ESI hospital, the previous government did not honour this, the Minister told Chandrababu. Vasamsetti also informed Chandrababu about the irregularities that took place in the YSR Bheema scheme.

When the officers informed Chandrababu about the pending amount of the state’s share of Rs 54 crore worth to the ESI hospitals, the Chief Minister ordered immediate release of the pending amount. He ordered that the Labour Welfare Board, Minimum Wages Board, and Building and Other Construction Workers Boards should be made active again and see to it that the services are available for the workers.(UNI)