Bengaluru: The ‘free bhagyas’ of the government are all set to be extended to the garment and unorganised sector also. After the Gram Panchayat elections, the government is planning to extend free bus passes to women garment workers.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Labour Minister Mr P.T. Parameshwar Naik said that he had held a meeting with Transport Minister Mr Ramalinga Reddy, who had agreed that the Transport Department would bear the burden in this regard.
In the first phase, four lakh labourers working in and around Bengaluru would be issued free passes. Later, this facility would be extended to other parts of the State. While the Labour department would pay Rs 1,000 per employee every month, the remaining amount would be borne by KSRTC, he said.
Meanwhile, the State government has registered over 65 lakh families under Swasth Bhima insurance scheme. Before coming to power, there were only 17 lakh people registered under this scheme. Now, the department has a target of bringing all 1.07 crore families under BPL under this scheme. The beneficiaries can avail medical facilities up to Rs 30,000 under this scheme, Mr Naik said.
