gig workers: Karnataka rolls out Rs 4 lakh insurance cover to gig workers

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced implementation of insurance cover worth Rs 4 lakh to each gig worker in Karnataka. The scheme would cover about 2.3 lakh gig workers, the CM said in a post on social media platform X.

“Our commitment to strengthen Karnataka will always continue by delivering as promised,” the CM said. The CM said this was a vow they took during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jogo yatra which had now become a reality.

In his budget speech on July 7, Siddaramaiah had said: “In order to provide social security to the ‘Gig Workers’ in the unorganized sector, i.e., employed as full time/part time delivery personnel in e-commerce companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, etc., insurance facility of total Rs.4 lakh will be provided which includes, life insurance of Rs. 2 lakh and accidental insurance of Rs. 2 lakh. The entire insurance premium will be borne by the government.”

Days before the assembly polls, Gandhi had interacted with gig workers in Bengaluru, discussing their issues and even taking a 2-km ride with a delivery partner on his vehicle. He discussed the workers’ lives, asking them about their difficulties with rising prices and lack of stable employment.
In its manifesto, the Congress had promised to set up a gig workers’ welfare board and to ensure minimum hourly wage for workers in the unorganised sector.Bengaluru has an estimated 200,000 gig workers in Dunzo, Swiggy, Blinkit, and other delivery platforms.