States asked to draw up schemes

Hyderabad: The Government of India has suggested to the State Governments to formulate schemes for providing relief to the aged and the disabled and to destitute women and children, the Union Labour Minister, Mr D. Sanjivayya, told newsmen here today.

The Union Minister, who arrived here this morning from Delhi, said that a provision of Rs 2 crores had been included in the Third Plan for providing such relief.

Under this scheme, the Centre would bear 75 per cent of the cost and the local authorities like the municipalities and the other bodies, would meed the remaining 25 per cent. The State Governments were expected to meed the expenditure on administration.

Work might be taken up in selected urban and rural areas, under the scheme on a trial basis, he said.

When asked about the proposed pension scheme for the workers covered by the Provident Fund scheme, the Union Minister said that, when implemented it was expected to benefit 28 lakh workmen and their families including four lakh of coal miners. The contribution both of the workers and the employers for the Provident Fund was recently increased to 8 per cent from 6 ¼ per cent. The total increase of 3 ½ per cent would be set apart for the payment of pensions to the widows and the minor children of the deceased employee.