Rs 5 lakh relief extended to workers who die in hospitals

She made the announcement while replying to the discussion on demand for grants to her ministry in the Assembly. She also announced special cells for differently-abled persons at the district employment offices in 18 districts. Placement officers would be appointed at government industrial training institutes to help in the placement of the trainees.

She also increased family pension for the construction workers registered in the Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board from Rs 400 to Rs 500. The funeral expenses for such workers would be raised to Rs 5,000 from Rs 2,000.

Nilofer Kafeel also allocated ultrasound equipment, fully automated analysers, ambulances, arthroscopes, rigid nasal endoscope with camera and TV unit and laproscope for ESI hospitals in various parts of the state.

Ever since the AIADMK returned to power in 2011, a total of 33 ESI hospitals had been inaugurated for the benefit of 1,81,680 workers, she said.

To facilitate ease of doing business, a web portal at a cost of Rs 1.81 crore had been formed to provide approval of licence for entrepreneurs with digital signatures, she said. A virtual learning system is being set up at an estimate of Rs 100 crore for job seekers.