Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a significant step towards ensuring welfare and security for sanitation workers, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday launched a comprehensive accident and health insurance scheme under the ‘Swarnandhra-Swachhandhra’programme. The initiative, introduced during his visit to Peddapuram, is aimed at safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of thousands of municipal workers and their families across Andhra Pradesh.

The scheme, developed in partnership with the Urban Development Department and Axis Bank, will directly benefit 55,686 municipal employees serving in 123 urban local bodies. Of these, 39,170 workers are engaged in the Public Health department while 16,516 are employed in other municipal divisions. The coverage extends to all categories, permanent, outsourcing, and contract workers.

Under the new arrangement, salary package accounts have been opened with Axis Bank for the employees. With this, workers will receive enhanced insurance coverage far beyond the earlier ex-gratia benefits. Until now, the government provided compensation of Rs.5 lakh for accidental death and Rs.2 lakh for natural death in the case of outsourcing staff.

With the new scheme, permanent employees will be entitled to Rs.1 crore accident insurance along with Rs.10 lakh life cover. Outsourced workers will be covered with Rs.20 lakh accident insurance and Rs.2 lakh life cover. In case of accidental death, the scheme also provides up to Rs.8 lakh in educational support for the deceased worker’s children.

Additionally, affordable health insurance of up to Rs.33 lakh per family will be available, covering workers along with their dependents. Families opening an additional zero-balance account will also receive an extra Rs.15 lakh accident cover.

The Chief Minister emphasized that sanitation workers are the backbone of urban hygiene and deserve both financial and social security. “This scheme reflects our commitment to protecting those who work tirelessly to keep our towns and cities clean,” he said.