If a manual worker dies due to an accident at a worksite, his/her nominee or legal heirs are eligible for financial assistance for transportation of the body of the worker, from hospital to their native place. It would apply to inter-State migrant workers too and a clause to this effect was recently included in the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers (Construction Workers) Welfare Scheme, 1994.
For the purpose of this clause, “accident” means death of a manual worker solely and directly from accident arising out of and in the course of their employment but does not include any intentional self-injury, suicide, attempted suicide, injury caused while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or caused by insanity or resulting from the commission of any breach of the law, or rules, regulations or instructions applicable, from time to time.
The amount of financial assistance would be paid under two categories -- in case of manual worker of Tamil Nadu, the transportation cost within the State of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and in case of inter-State migrant worker, the transportation cost outside Tamil Nadu. In the case of the latter, the actual transportation cost of government mortuary van/train or transportation cost of air up to maximum of ₹1 lakh from hospital to worker’s native place in the State concerned.
