AN ASSISTANCE distribution pro gramme under Chief Minister Jan Kalyan (Sambal 2.0) Scheme was held at the State Secretariat, trans ferring Rs 160 crore directly into the bank accounts of 7,227 Sambal beneficiaries from 55 districts across Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. Addressing the programme, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav highlighted that since its launch in 2018, the Sambal Scheme has provided assistance amounting to Rs 7,383 crore to needy bene ficiaries in 7.76 lakh cases, offer ing crucial support to workers and their families during difficult times.

 

He emphasized that the scheme is not only a financial aid mechanism but also a relationship of trust between the government and workers. Noting changes in the labour sector, the Chief Minister said that gig and platform workers have been granted unorganised work er status and included under the Sambal Scheme from 1 March 2024, with over 1,400 gig workers already registered. Concern for the health of poor and working families was also underscored, as Sambal benefici aries are linked with the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, enabling free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh.

  

Over 2.5 million new e-Shramik families have also been provided ration eligibility to ensure access to free food grains. Dr Yadav fur ther announced Rs 16,000 finan cial assistance for expectant moth ers to prevent nutritional defi ciencies during pregnancy. The scheme currently benefits workers across sectors including stone breakers, brick makers, domestic workers, papad and pickle makers, cooks, and tendu leaf collectors, while initiatives like “Shramna” are being pro moted to develop skilled labour and enhance self-reliance. Panchayat and Rural Development and Labour Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, join ing virtually from Amarkantak, stated that over 1.83 crore work ers have been registered under the scheme, with 43 lakh people enrolled under Sambal 2.0.

 

He added that the Labour Department has streamlined processes to clear payments with in 60 days, addressing previous backlogs. The programme was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Neeraj Mandloi, Secretary to CM Alok Singh, Labour Secretary Raghuraj M R, and other officials, along with beneficiaries and pub lic representatives through video conferencing. Under the Sambal 2.0 Scheme, beneficiaries received ex-gratia assistance for various cases, including Rs 2 lakh for nat ural death (6,390 cases), Rs 4 lakh for accidental death (790 cases), Rs 1 lakh for partial permanent disability (34 cases), and Rs 2 lakh for permanent disability (13 cas es), totaling 7,227 beneficiaries. The scheme continues to serve as a social security shield, promot ing dignity, self-reliance, and financial stability for workers and their families.