Workers are true builders of Madhya Pradesh; their hard work is the foundation of development : Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that the State Government is ensuring that the benefits of welfare schemes reach every needy person. Our government will continue to provide affection, support, self-reliance and financial security to the poor, helpless, workers, destitute and needy citizens. The government always stands with the people of the state in their joys and sorrows.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing the assistance distribution programme under the Chief Minister Jan Kalyan (Sambal 2.0) Scheme at the Secretariat on Tuesday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister transferred ₹160 crore as ex-gratia assistance into the bank accounts of 7,227 Sambal beneficiaries from 55 districts of the state.

The Chief Minister said that since the launch of the scheme in 2018 till now, assistance amounting to ₹7,383 crore has been provided to needy beneficiaries in 7.76 lakh cases.

Dr. Yadav said that the Sambal Scheme is a great support workers in difficult times. The government stands firmly with workers under all circumstances. The Sambal Scheme is not just a means of financial assistance, but also a relationship of mutual trust between the government and workers.

He said that with time, the nature of labour has changed. The government has granted unorganised worker status to gig and platform workers, and from 1 March 2024, they have also been included under the Sambal Scheme. So far, more than 1,400 gig workers have been registered.

Concerned about the health of the poor and workers, the government has also linked Sambal beneficiaries with the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, enabling them to receive free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Additionally, more than 2.5 million new e-Shramik families have been provided ration eligibility, ensuring access to free food grains.

The Chief Minister said that the government is highly sensitive towards expectant mothers as well. To ensure that expectant mothers do not have to work during pregnancy and do not suffer from nutritional deficiencies, financial assistance of ₹16,000 is being provided to them.

Dr. Yadav said that stone breakers, brick makers, papad and pickle makers, cooks, domestic workers, tendu leaf collectors, and all other workers and their families are now benefiting from this scheme. To promote skilled labour through cooperatives and make workers self-reliant, schemes such as “Shramna” have also been launched. He reiterated that the government stands with every poor and working-class family at every step, and no worker family should feel helpless. Workers should take full advantage of all government welfare schemes.

He said that difficulties in life never come with prior notice, and in such times, savings and financial support become true strength. The State Government stands with all worker families during every difficult phase. The Sambal Scheme binds everyone together like a garland.

Panchayat and Rural Development and Labour Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, while joining the programme virtually from Amarkantak, said that under the current government’s tenure, assistance is being transferred to beneficiary families for the 7th time under the Sambal Scheme. So far, over 1.83 crore workers have been registered under the scheme, while 43 lakh people have registered under Sambal 2.0.

He said that the State Government has also cleared the backlog left by the previous government. The Labour Department has now reached a stage where payments in Sambal cases can be made within 60 days, which is a major achievement of the last two years.

The programme was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Chief Minister’s Office) Shri Neeraj Mandloi, Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Alok Singh, Labour Secretary Shri Raghuraj M.R., Secretary, MP Unorganised Urban and Rural Workers Welfare Board Shri Basant Kurre, along with other officials. Public representatives and Sambal beneficiaries from districts participated in the programme through video conferencing.

It is noteworthy that the Sambal Scheme has emerged as a social security shield for workers and needy families. Under the scheme, female workers receive ₹16,000 as maternity assistance, while the entire tuition fee for higher education of workers’ children is borne by the State Government. This scheme, which strengthens social security, has brought hope and trust into the lives of lakhs of families. All registered Sambal beneficiaries are also entitled to free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Today, the Sambal Scheme has become not only a means of financial assistance, but also a symbol of dignity, security and self-reliance for worker families.

Beneficiaries receiving payments under Chief Minister Jan Kalyan (Sambal 2.0) Scheme