House passes unorganised sector Bill

Rejecting as many as 11 amendments suggested by the Left parties, the UPA government today managed to get the Unorganised Workers Social Security Bill passed in the Lok Sabha.

An adamant CPI(M) sought division (electronic and paper ballot voting) on two of its main demands — setting up of a dedicated fund and statutory power for the advisory bodies created to oversee the implementation of the welfare schemes. Even as the BJP supported the Left, the Opposition lost on the two issues by a margin of 17 and 20 votes, respectively.

Earlier in the debate, UPA ally RJD had echoed the Left stand. Devendra Prasad Yadav had repeated creation of a separate fund and other demands of the Left. However, when the question of voting came, the Left MPs didn’t get the support from any of the allies. Even some of their own MPs, including Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Sudhanshu Sil [CPI(M)], were not seen during the crucial moments of voting.

Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes termed the Bill as the “first step in 60 years to remove difficulties of the poor”.

The Bill has already been approved by the Rajya Sabha. It provides for various welfare schemes like health insurance, group accident benefits, saving-cum-relief scheme and family and old-age benefit schemes.

However, Fernandes admitted that there could be “shortcomings” and the government would not be able to cover everybody in one go. He also sought cooperation from states for speedy implementation of the Act.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today claimed that “a balance of requirement of law and human rights had been ensured” as the UPA government managed to pass the two Bills related to creation of National Investigation Agency and amendments to Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the Lok Sabha.