Minister pledges aid for Kerala motor workers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has taken several measures to help the motor transport workers who have been severely affected by the pandemic, general education and labour minister V Sivankutty said on Thursday.
Replying to a calling attention motion by K Babu MLA, the minister said financial aid was provided to the workers from the Kerala motor transport workers welfare fund board during the last year’s lockdown period.Last year, the board disbursed Rs 36.38 crore by way of benefits and pensions to the workers.
In the second phase too, various types of financial aid were offered considering the financial instability of the workers. When the second wave of the pandemic hit, the board till date has disbursed Rs13.10 crore by way of pensions and benefits. In addition, the government is also examining whether the workers’ share towards the welfare fund board from April 2021 till September 2021, can be waived off. This amount would come to Rs 100 crore, he said. In addition, the transport department has offered tax waivers, extension of the validity of various permits of the vehicles etc, to help the workers in the sector, he said.