Being out of the purview of most labour laws, unorganised sector workers, comprising approximately 93% of the working population of the state, have traditionally been one of the most vulnerable sections of the society. To alleviate their plight, the state government has, from time to time, launched a number of social security schemes like State Assisted Scheme of Provident Fund, Welfare Schemes for Building and Other Construction Workers and Social Security Schemes for Transport workers.However, there have been non uniformity in the benefits across the schemes, resulting in occupation based disparities across workmen.
To mitigate such anomalies, a project was undertaken with the objective of integrating the different schemes and to offer uniform benefits to all unorganised workmen so as to help them face every exigency of life. Thus, was born - SAMAJIK SURAKSHA YOJANA (SSY)- 2017, the first of its kind in the country- to cover every eligible unorganised worker as per the approved list of unorganised industries (46) and self-employed occupations (15) notified by the Labour Department, Government of West Bengal from time to time along with construction and transport workers.
To assist the enrolled beneficiaries further, the state government has decided to waive off the beneficiary contribution of Rs 25/- a month towards subscription payment for provident funds and has decided to contribute the amount itself on behalf of the beneficiaries from 1st April 2020. Thus the scheme was renamed as Bina Mulya Samajik Suraksha Yojana (BM-SSY) where any enrolled beneficiary can avail all the available benefits without expending a single rupee.
