Punjab today took two major decisions for the welfare of construction labourers by substantially hiking the scholarship of their children besides doubling the shagun amount given to their daughters.These decisions were taken in a high level meeting of the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board presided by Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Labour Minster,Punjab. Mr. Jiyani while pulging the details said that the increased rates of scholarship and shgun would be applicable from April 1, 2013. He said that now the students from 1st to 5th standard would get scholarship of Rs. 2,000 pre annum, from 6th to 8th Rs.3, 000 p.a, from 9th to 12th Rs. 5,000 p.a. and for college student (for every stream of graduation/post graduation) Rs. 15,000 per annum, would be given as scholarship, if the student staying at hostel this amount would be Rs. 30,000 per annum. Similarly every kind of Medical/Engineering degree students would be entitled for the scholarship of Rs. 30,000 per annum and if the student staying in hostel this amount would be Rs. 50,000 per year.
Jiyani further said that the amount of Shagun given during the marriage of the daughter of the construction labourers’ has also been doubled. He said that now the shagun amount would be Rs. 21,000 instead of earlier Rs. 11,000.
He said that the board would also help the registered labourers and their dependents for dental and eye care and for hearing aids. He said that financial aid for Rs.800 would be given for eyeglasses, Rs. 5,000 for implanting denture and Rs. 6,000 would be given for hearing aids. Only those construction labourers registered with the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board would avail these welfare schemes
Prominent amongst other who were present during the meeting included Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, Special Secretary Labour and Labour Commissioner, Mr. Harish Nayyer, Additional Labour Commissioner, MR. Jacob Partap, Deputy Labour Commissioner and member of Punjab Building and other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.