Odisha CM announces social security yojana for newspaper hawkers; Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for accidental death

Bhubaneswar: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced a social security plan (yojana) for the newspaper hawkers in the State. It includes Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for death due to accident. The I & PR Department will scrutinize such hawkers and prepare a Database to issue ID Cards to each of them.

Newspaper hawkers play a vital role in news circulation. They use to work in different weather conditions and work early in the morning. Keeping in view their role to link people to news, Odisha CM has announced the social security plan for them.

Social security package for newspaper hawkers announced by CM @Naveen_Odisha today was a compelling necessity

Hawkers hv been left to fend for themselves during Covid when people stopped subscribing to broadsheets

Rs 3000 spl assistance from CMRF will meet their pressing needs pic.twitter.com/VOQwB71FbF

— Soumyajit Pattnaik (@soumyajitt) November 30, 2021

As per this yojana the hawkers registered under the Odisha unorganised social security Board will be included in the plan. As per this yojana the next to kin of a newspaper hawker will be given the benefit of Rs. 2 lakh ex-gratia for death due to accident and Rs 1 lakh for death due to natural causes. Similarly, for permanent disability an amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh financial help will be provided and for loss of both limbs Rs 80,000 to be provided while for loss of one limb Rs. 40,000 financial help to be provided.

As the hawkers faced financial crisis due to Covid, the registered newspaper hawkers will be provided with Rs. 3000 in two instalments. The financial add will be provided from the CM’s relief fund.

Besides, as they face problem to work, appropriate worksheds will be provided in Sub division and District level.

In this regard, the Information and Public Relations Department will conduct a database to scrutinize the hawkers and will issue ID cards, the CM issued directive in this regard.

Also read: Security beefed up in Odisha assembly for winter session