Kin of dead gig worker get Rs 4L insurance

Mangaluru: Exactly a year after Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah announced the launch of insurance for gig workers in the state, a 21-year-old delivery boy's family received Rs 4-lakh insurance after he died in a road accident early this year.According to sources in the labour department, the boy, identified as Arjun Poojar, had enrolled for the life cover barely 10 days before a car hits his motorbike leading to his death. The money was released through Karnataka State Gig Workers Insurance scheme of Karnataka State Unorganised Workers Social Security Board last week.After completing PU, Arjun had joined a food-delivery platform in 2023 in Mangaluru and was staying in Nandigudda. On February 14, he enrolled for the scheme. On February 24, while delivering a food order, the boy's two-wheeler was rammed by a car on KSRTC-Kuntikana Road here.As per an FIR filed by Mangaluru City police, Arjun suffered head injuries in the accident. He was immediately shifted to a private hospital by the driver of the car involved in the accident. Later, he was moved to Wenlock District Hospital and then to another private hospital for advanced treatment where he died on February 26.Arjun's brother Parashuram Poojar, a student, said representatives from the food-delivery company Arjun worked for are expected to provide support to the family. "Our entire family resides in our hometown in Badami taluk of Bagalkot district," he added.Following his death, the boy's father Madigappa Poojar applied for the insurance benefit through the labour department. On September 19, labour minister Santosh Lad handed over the cheque to Madigappa in Bengaluru.Sources said this is the first recorded instance of the family of a gig worker receiving claims under the Karnataka State Gig Workers Insurance Scheme.In line with the promise made by Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo yatra in the run-up to the 2023 assembly elections, the Congress govt, in September last year, announced insurance cover worth Rs 4 lakh to each gig worker in Karnataka. The scheme covers about 2.3 lakh gig workers in the state.CM Siddaramaiah, during his budget-presentation speech in July last year, had said the Rs 4 lakh component includes Rs 2 lakh each of life insurance and accident insurance, adding his govt would foot the insurance premium.