Bhubaneswar: With the approval of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha government has constituted the Odisha Motor Vehicle Drivers and Workers Welfare Board under the chairmanship of the Commerce and Transport Minister.
Dharmasala MLA Pranab Balabantray and Jharsuguda MLA Deepali Das have been selected as members of the board. Among others, the board will have transport department officials, representatives of vehicle owners’ associations, representatives of drivers’ unions, representatives of employees’ unions and social workers as members.
On June 12, 2023, the Chief Minister had approved the formation of the welfare board. It will make necessary recommendations to the government for the welfare of drivers and employees and implement various schemes aimed at the welfare of drivers and employees.
More than five lakh drivers and employees and their families of the state will be benefited by this welfare board.
In June, the government had launched a welfare scheme for vehicle drivers and workers under which their next of kin will get an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh in case of accidental death.
The state government will initially provide financial assistance to the welfare board for implementing the programme.
Later, the board will arrange resources from registration fee and contributions from motor vehicle owners, the minister added.
Under the scheme, the next of kin of drivers and workers will get Rs 2 lakh in case of natural death.
Any motor vehicle driver or worker is also eligible to get financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh in case of permanent disability.
The government has also announced that the motor vehicle drivers and workers will be included under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) and Madhu Babu Pension scheme of the government if they fulfil the necessary criteria.
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