Pawan Kalyan Announces Free Accident Cover up to ₹30 Lakh for Labourers
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan stated that workers play a crucial role in nation-building and that development is impossible without them. On the occasion of Labour Day (May Day), he held a special meeting with workers and assured them that his government is committed to their welfare.
Pawan Kalyan appealed for a shift in terminology, urging that workers should no longer be referred to as “coolies” but rather be addressed respectfully as “wage labourers.” He emphasised that those who work hard deserve the utmost respect and highlighted the importance of the “dignity of labour,” stating that no progress could be achieved in the country without the efforts of the working class.
He declared, “We are not working for votes but with a spirit of service,” and mentioned that even the Panchayati Raj Department had initiated measures to quench the thirst of voiceless animals.
Pawan Kalyan announced that the government is giving high priority to the welfare of workers under the employment guarantee scheme. As part of this effort, he made a key declaration that compensation for the family of a worker who dies accidentally at the workplace will be increased from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh. Furthermore, he revealed that a partnership had been established with the State Bank of India to provide free accident insurance ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹30 lakh for all wage labourers.
Considering the extreme heat conditions, Pawan Kalyan suggested changes to work hours under the employment guarantee scheme. He directed that work should be completed before 11 a.m. and, if necessary, resumed after 4 p.m. He stated that Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), basic medical facilities, and ORS packets should be made available to wage labourers in villages.
He further mentioned that Panchayati Raj funds are crucial for rural development and detailed that ₹10,669 crore was spent in the last financial year. Of this, ₹6,190 crore was allocated for wages, while the remaining funds were used to carry out activities under the “Palle Panduga” programme. These included setting up 21,564 cattle shelters, 13,500 animal drinking water tanks, and constructing 36,000 kilometres of roads in SC and ST colonies.
Pawan Kalyan commended these development efforts, attributing their success to the hard work of the labourers. He reaffirmed that the primary goal of the government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is the welfare of wage labourers and that the administration stands firmly in support of those who work.