The Chief Minister gave instructions in a high-level review meeting with the officials of the Labor Department
Amar Ujala Bureau
New Delhi. The Delhi government will provide group insurance, passes for free travel in DTC buses, subsidized housing and hostel facilities to the construction workers. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has given strict instructions that 13 lakh construction workers should be given all the facilities of the government. Apart from this, the government has also decided to give tool kits to the laborers and run skill development programs on a large scale for them.
A high-level review meeting of the Labor Department of Delhi Government was held on Monday, in which several important decisions were taken for the welfare of the registered construction workers in Delhi. In the meeting, the officers briefed the Chief Minister about the functioning of the Board and presented a detailed description of various measures in view of which 25 per cent of the funds are to be spent on the welfare of the workers. During this, Labor Minister Rajkumar Anand and senior officials of the department were present.
There is no point in running the department if there are no facilities for the workers: Kejriwal
In the meeting, Kejriwal expressed displeasure over the facilities provided by the government not reaching all the workers. He said that if the benefits of welfare schemes cannot be given to all the workers, then there is no point in running the department. He directed the Labor Department to prepare an action plan to reach the welfare schemes to all the registered workers. He said that 13 lakh construction workers are registered with the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, but there is no system to verify and reach them. The department has 3-4 thousand crore rupees, so it should extend the benefits of its schemes to all the 13 lakh workers. The Labor Department has been directed to coordinate with the Revenue Department to complete the verification of registered construction workers by June so that the schemes of the government can reach each one. Merely giving pension to 500 new beneficiaries is not enough. The Department could have increased the number of eligible laborers by verification. Workers can be made aware of the schemes by sending messages on their mobiles. The officers have been directed to prepare a plan to promote the existing schemes in a cost-effective manner.
Workers will get tool kit
In the meeting, Kejriwal said that distribution of tool kits to workers, providing on-site crèche facilities, skill development, providing subsidized houses and transit hostels to workers, free coaching for children of construction workers should be facilitated. The government will provide tool kits and skill training on a large scale to workers of 5 trades including masons, plumbers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters. Each tool kit will include 5-6 important tools and 3 essential safety gears. Transit hostels should be provided to migrant workers. Under this scheme, the government will allot LIG flats to construction workers by bearing 75 percent of the cost. The beneficiary will have to pay only the remaining 25 per cent amount.