The Punjab Government has decided to impart Skill Development training to the 14790 construction workers engaged at 182 construction sites under its ambitious ‘Punjab State Skill Development Mission’. It was disclosed by Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Labour Minister, Punjab while chairing the meeting of Punjab Construction Worker’s Welfare Board. Disclosing this official spokesperson of the Labour Department said that the construction workers would be imparted training in phased manner. He said that in the first phase training for the construction workers engaged at 30 construction sites would be started from 1 January 2016. Likewise in the second phase skill development training for another lot of construction workers engaged at 30 more sites would be commenced from 1 March 2016. He said that the list of these construction workers has been prepared by the Punjab Construction Worker’s Welfare Board and has been forwarded to the Punjab State Skill Development Mission for training. The Minister during the meeting has disclosed that the Board was also setting up four Skill Development Centers at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Mohali and Ludhiana for imparting skill development training to the children of construction workers. The construction work on Amritsar center has been initiated. He said that the out of the 27 under construction Labour Shed-cum-Night Shelters, construction of 5 sites have been completed and the work on other sites is also underway. The Minister further disclosed in the meeting that Board has also enhanced the scholarship amount from 1st standard to post gradation and medical /engineering courses for different classes from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 60,000 (for Boys) and Rs 4000 to Rs. 70,000 (for Girls), this scholarship was earlier ranges from Rs. 2800 to Rs. 58000. Besides this the grant for the cremation has also been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000.In the meeting consent has also been accorded to enhance the insurance cover upto Rs. 5 lakh for the construction worker in case of death due to accident. Decision to provide advance of Rs. 10 lakh to the Punjab Health System Corporation has also been taken to provide free tooth care and to fix dentures.