Labour Welfare Gets New Boost In AP
: As Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu places worker welfare and industrial safety at the center of Andhra Pradesh’s governance agenda, the government has announced a slew of reforms aimed at restoring dignity and social security of workers in the last two years.
The government’s efforts covered both organized and unorganized sectors of the workforce.
Projecting workers not only as beneficiaries but also as partners in rebuilding the state, the prime minister has introduced measures ranging from integrated work centers and skills training to enhanced social assistance, factory safety reforms and the modernization of ESI health services.
One of the most important initiatives taken under the CM’s leadership was the establishment of modern Labor Addas or Integrated Labor Opportunities Centers in urban centers such as Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram, Guntur and Nellore, as well as district headquarters across the state.
These centers are designed to provide daily wage workers with access to clean drinking water, waiting rooms, toilets and employment-related information under one roof.
“The government also plans to use free hours to enhance the skills of employees through structured training programs so that traditional workforce skills can be integrated with modern technology and industry requirements,” officials said.
The government is simultaneously reviving several social assistance programs that had been discontinued in recent years, officials said. Andhra Pradesh currently has more than 88 lakh registered unorganized workers, including more than 18 lakh construction workers.
Under the renewed social assistance framework, families of registered workers now receive a maternity benefit of Rs 20,000 and a marriage benefit of Rs 40,000.
In cases of accident or natural death, financial support of 20,000 Rupees will be provided, while 60,000 Rupees will be given for funeral expenses. Free health checks are also provided for workers.
The state government is also preparing proposals to appoint specialized chemical inspectors to inspect hazardous industries. While agreements for industrial security collaborations were signed with leading institutions such as JNTU and SVU, third-party security audits and various trial exercises were completed in 360 sectors.
Labor minister Vasamsetti Subhash said the government has also initiated comprehensive reforms in Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) healthcare to benefit nearly 15 lakh insured workers and their families.
He explained: “A new ESI hospital building has been started in Achyutapuram, while the number of beds in Tirupati ESI Hospital has been increased to 100. Land has also been allocated for new hospitals in Guntur, Kurnool, Sri City and Nellore.”
“In a significant development, approval has been received for a 50-bed ESIC Medical College in Visakhapatnam. Proposals for a 500-bed super specialty hospital and medical college in Amaravati are also being considered,” he said.
Subhash said the purchase of surgical equipment worth Rs 78 lakh, which was delayed for nearly five years, has now been revived.
The minister added that the government has also introduced digital platforms such as “My Health” and “e-Aushadhi” to ensure transparency in medicine distribution and healthcare delivery.
