Loknete Gopinath Munde Sugarcane Workers Welfare Corporation

Introduction:

To provide various welfare schemes for sugarcane workers, the Gopinath Munde Sugarcane Workers Corporation was established as per Government Resolution No. Asanka1119/Pr.No.110/Kam.7A, dated September 13, 2019. The corporation aims to offer welfare and social security schemes to sugarcane workers in the state.

Key Points:

1. Registration: The corporation is registered under the Companies Act, 2013, with approval from the Law and Justice Department.
2. Head Office: The main office in Pune was inaugurated on April 3, 2022, by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and the Minister of Social Justice and Special Assistance.
3. Funding: A welfare fund is collected from sugar factories at ₹10 per metric ton of sugarcane crushed, with ₹3 per ton already collected from 173 sugar factories, totaling ₹38.32 crores.
4. Budget: For administrative expenses, two budget heads have been created with ₹85 crores allocated for 2023-24 and ₹50 crores for 2025. ₹5 crores for 2023-24 and ₹10 crores for 2024-25 have been disbursed.
5. Registration and ID Cards: A 10-member committee under the District Collector is responsible for registering sugarcane workers and issuing ID cards. So far, 2,41,532 workers have been registered, and 1,13,883 have received ID cards.
6. Hostel Scheme: The Sant Bhagwanbaba Government Hostel Scheme was launched on June 15, 2021, with 82 hostels approved in Beed, Jalna, and Ahmednagar districts. Currently, 17 hostels are operational, accommodating 757 students.
7. Health Camps: Health camps are organized at work sites with the cooperation of the District Health Department, covering 147,960 workers from 102 private and 109 cooperative sugar factories.
8. Mobile Clinics: Mobile clinic services are being provided through recognized NGOs registered with the Public Health Department.
9. Equipment Provision: Plans to provide electric sickles, small tractors, and trolleys to workers, and subsidies for those who purchase machinery through bank loans.
10. Web/Mobile Application: A web and mobile application for worker registration is being developed by MahaIT and is in the final stages.
11. Organizational Structure: The Finance Department has suggested improvements to the corporation’s structure, which are being implemented.
12. Accident Compensation: The “Gopinath Munde Sugarcane Workers Welfare Corporation Ex-Gratia Grant Scheme” provides financial benefits to workers or their families in case of death or disability due to accidents.