Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Bandaru Dattatraya, who returned home after attending the G-20 Labour Ministers Conference in China from July 11 to 13, today said
India will be hosting BRICS officials’ meeting here on July 27 and 28 and BRICS Ministers meeting in Agra in September this year.
Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Dattatraya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was giving a lot of importance for employment generation in rural areas and has pumped Rs 1,824 crore as 90% share of the Centre in 2015-16 to Telangana State. He urged the State Govt to utilize the funds for creation of productive assets. He recalled that through a Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme, there is a saving of about 30 to 35% of the total funds. He said the Centre has been proactive and pumped a total of Rs 580 crore to 8,695 Gram Panchyats in Telangana State, funding each Gram Panchayat at an average of Rs 6.6 lakh directly.
The Union minister also stated that the Centre was actively considering creation of Turmeric Park in Armoor of Nizambad District, Mirchi Park in Warangal and Khammam and Chenetha Park in Gadwal and Pochampally. He said a Central team will be visiting Armoor for selecting a place for setting up of Turmeric Park.
Dattatraya said three bills pertaining to his ministry — Amendments in Child Labour (Prohibiton & Regulation) Act, 1986, Maternity Benefit Act, 1961and Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923 would be introduced in Parliament soon.
Restructuring of EPFO
Dattatraya said he will shortly announce the restructuring of EPFO, creation of 21 Zones from the existing 10, promotions to employees, extension of EPFO service in the coming days and reducing the employees strength from the existing 20 to 10 for the EPFO eligibility, bringing the rural, semi-urban, unorganized, contract workers into the fold of EPFO social security resulting in increase of PF subscribers from existing six crore to about nine crore in the country. He also said an amendment to the EPF Act will be made. He said speedy settlement of claims is on the agenda of EPFO for the purpose of recruitments and promotion to the employees is on the cards.
Mentioning about the Exchange Traded Funds, the Union Minister said as on June 30 this year, there is an investment of Rs7468 crore in the share market, whose market value today stands at Rs 8024 crore. (NSS)