From labour welfare to social security: UP govt rolls out schemes for workers, vulnerable groups

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a set of initiatives aimed at improving welfare for workers and providing support to vulnerable sections of society. The measures focus on labour welfare, financial inclusion, education and social security.As part of efforts to strengthen support for the labour force, more than 52,572 skilled workers have been registered on the Sevamitra Portal as of July 2025. The portal is designed to connect skilled workers with employment opportunities.Under the PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, nearly 6.92 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled in pension schemes intended to provide financial security to workers in the unorganised sector.The government has also taken steps to support the education of workers' children. Atal Residential Schools have been established in every division to provide education to children of registered workers and those who lost parents during the Covid-19 pandemic. At present, these schools are operating in 12 districts.Officials said that financial inclusion programmes have expanded significantly in recent years. More than 9.52 crore bank accounts have been opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana, while over 93 lakh people have enrolled in the Atal Pension Yojana.Compensation measures for workplace accidents have also been introduced. Registered workers’ families can receive up to Rs 5 lakh in case of death. Compensation ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh is available in cases of disability depending on severity. Unregistered workers are also eligible for compensation of up to Rs 1.25 lakh in the event of workplace accidents or death.Social welfare programmes include the Kanya Vivah Sahayata Yojana, which provides financial assistance for the marriage of daughters of registered workers. Grants of up to Rs 61,000 are available for inter-caste marriages.Healthcare support has also been expanded, with construction workers eligible for full reimbursement of treatment costs for serious illnesses in government hospitals.For persons with disabilities, monthly maintenance grants have been set at Rs 1,000, while pensions for those affected by leprosy have been increased to Rs 3,000. The government is also providing artificial limbs and assistive devices, and the number of state awards recognising achievements of persons with disabilities has been increased from three to 12.The government has also highlighted the scale of educational scholarships distributed between 2017 and 2025. During this period, millions of students from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other categories received financial assistance. According to official figures, more than 1.44 crore students from Backward Classes received scholarships worth over Rs 12,235 crore.Officials said that the initiatives aim to provide financial support while improving access to education, social security and healthcare for workers and disadvantaged groups.