Marketing Minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday announced that the State government will implement an insurance scheme for security guards, hamalis, weighmen and women labourers employed in market yards from July.

An action plan to provide insurance cover for Rs. 2 lakh for these workers has been worked out. Steps will be taken to hike the amount to Rs. 5 lakh in consultation with the Labour Department from the next year, Mr. Rao told a meeting of market committee secretaries here on Wednesday. He also met a large number of representatives of security guards, hamalis and weighmen working in market yards to enquire into their living standards. A press release said the Minister constituted a committee headed by Marketing Director to go into the representation of the workers seeking enhancement in their wages. The panel should submit the report within a week.

Mr. Rao passed on strict instruction to senior officers to hold health camps for security guards, hamalis, weighmen and women workers every six months. A decision will be taken soon on the proposal to pay Rs. 3,000 to hamalis towards their uniforms.