HYDERABAD, Nov 14: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched the Telangana Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Scheme for gig workers, including online delivery personnel.
Under the scheme, gig workers will receive accident insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh and health insurance of up to Rs 10 lakh for treatment during illness.
The Telangana government will also set up Wi-Fi-enabled rest centres for gig workers in every city in the state. The centres will have space for workers to park their bikes or scooters, sit and rest, and sleep for a while if needed.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka were present at the event.
“Delivery workers have to continue working in intense heat, rain and amid the risk of road accidents. If illness or an accident stops them from working, their income also stops,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi said workers would be able to access details of their completed trips, work and earnings on their mobile phones. He said this would reduce their dependence on others for information about their income.
Before the event, Gandhi joined gig workers in a bike rally from Shilparamam to Jaiveri Grounds in Hyderabad. Revanth Reddy also took part in the rally. Gandhi was seen travelling on the pillion seat of a delivery worker's scooter.
Gandhi also criticised the BJP-RSS ideology, alleging that it sought to create conditions in which gig workers were made to work round the clock while large companies benefited from their labour. He said the Congress wanted workers to be partners in the economic system, not merely employees.
The timeline for implementing the insurance, rest centres and earnings information facility, as well as the number of workers expected to benefit, was not immediately clear.
