Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been requested to impose an additional cess of 50 paise to Re. 1 on petrol and diesel for the welfare of workers in unorganised sector, said Labour Welfare Minister Santosh Lad, here yesterday.

Speaking after inaugurating awareness programme and distribution of smart cards for workers of unorganised sector organised by Labour Department in Kalamandira, Santosh Lad said the increase of cess on petrol and diesel would help in coming out of various other welfare schemes for the unorganised sector and revenue generated would be allocated to the Labour department.

“Nationwide there are about 93 percent workers and about 83 percent in Karnataka who are in requirement of social security and necessary facilities for which there is a need of additional funds. In this regard, additional cess on petrol and diesel has to be imposed and revenue generated has to be allocated to Labour Department for the welfare of the workers in unorganised sector,” he added.

Minister Santosh Lad, also mentioned that the State Government was also contemplating about bringing out a law that ensures minimum wages for house  maids and also a society for those working on outsource basis for private firms. This would prevent the outsourced employees being denied facilities by private companies.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Santosh Lad said while the Prime Minister came to power projecting ‘Gujarat Model’, and now there is need to know about the actual condition of the people living  there. “Indira Gandhi, as a Prime Minister had launched the Twenty Point Programme for socio-economic development which are still relevant. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also announced five guarantee schemes through which people living under Below Poverty Line are getting Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000,” he said

While BJP criticised the State Government, when in power the party never introduced one such programme to improve the condition of the poor.

MLAs Tanveer Sait, K. Harishgowda, D. Ravishankar and Anil Chikkamadu and MLC Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah were present.