Secretary Labour and Employment, Saurabh Bhagat said that during current financial year about Rs. 70 crores were provided as scholarship grant to the 1.50 lac workers, registered with Board and Other construction welfare Scheme. He said due to Back to village, My Town my Pride and Block Diwas programme initiatives, the government was able to register 1.60 lac more workers with this scheme taking the tall to about 3 lac workers throughout UT of J&K.
He said the scholarship provide covering the scheme of death benefits, disability benefits and simultaneously marriage assistance. The scholarships are also been provided to facilitate education of children of these workers from first class to Post Graduation, in addition the scheme has also the advantage to provide scholarships for onward higher studies. These remarks were made by the Commissioner Secretary during an inspection of the Office of Assistant Labour Commissioner Budgam.
Mr. Bhagat during the inspection in detail ascertained from the concerned Assistant Labour Commissioner about the status of implementation of these schemes for the registered labour class. He was apprised that since the fall out of COVID-19 pandemic, the registration process get accelerated as more and more deserving class approached to the office for their registration.
Mr. Bhagat said that taking miseries of the transport workers into account, who are going through serious hardships, the government initiated the process to accommodate these workers also in this scheme and till date about 6,000 workers have been registered are receiving monthly Rs. 1000.
Mr. Bhagat further said that while observing the ground results of the scheme, as it has emerged highly beneficial for poor and weaker sections. The government has extended the grants and has earmarked 100 crores for the next year. Mr. Bhagat appealed all concerned to spread the message relating to this scheme across all areas of UT, so that more and more labour class will be registered in coming period.
Mr. Bhagat during the inspection distributed 230 checks of different schemes under aid component to the beneficiaries present on the occasion.
Earlier Assistant labour Commissioner Budgam, Miss Hafsa presented the progress and other achievements made under different schemes by the department and the status of Beneficiaries covered.
