Hyderabad, September 21 INN: Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday expressed serious concern over non-spending of cess collected from builders for the welfare of workers.
Inaugurating a National-level Workshop on Welfare of Building and Construction Workers, organized under the aegis of Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with ILO and GIZ, here in the city, he stated that though the total collection of cess with welfare boards stood at Rs 7,057 crores, they utilized only Rs 1,009 crores for the welfare of workers till June this year. Hailing the Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh for making remarkable progress in the registration of workers, collection of cess and utilisation of funds for welfare of workers, he asked other States too to follow them as role models.
Stating that about 88.10 lakh construction workers have been registered against the total strength of 4.46 crore workers, he appealed to the States to look into proper implementation of laws to ensure welfare and security of unorganised labour and their health care. He suggested that the State Governments constitute Building and Construction Workers Welfare Boards and provide assistance to beneficiary in case of accident, making payment of pension to beneficiaries who have completed 60 years of age, sanctioning of loan and advances, health insurance schemes, financial assistance for education of children and maternity benefit to women.
The Union Minister expressed confidence that the workshop would help accelerate the registration process, collection of cess and improve utilization of funds for welfare of workers in all the States.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Labour Danam Nagender said that the workshop must focus its attention on providing health security to construction workers and their families. He stated that Andhra Pradesh Government has been implementing Rajiv Aarogyasree scheme for the benefit of unorganised workers. He also said that the State has registered 15 lakh building workers and collected Rs 900 crores as cess.
Nagender informed the Union Minister that the State Government has been providing accident assistance of Rs 2 lakh, permanent disability assistance upto Rs 1 lakh, natural death assistance of Rs 30,000, girl child marriage gift of Rs 5,000, funeral expenses of Rs 5,000 and hospitalisation assistance of Rs 4,500 for building and construction workers. Apart from this, he said that the government has been conducting training programmes for upgradation of skill for building workers with the support of National Academy of Construction in Hyderabad.
He also said that the government was evolving need based schemes for the benefit of workers and making sincere efforts to improve their living conditions.
Union Labour Secretary Sarangi, State Labour Secretary J C Sharma, ILO Director Tine Staermose and other delegates from various States were present in the workshop.
- INN
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