Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman Nardev Kanwar held a meeting with Joint Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment Ashutosh A.T. Pednekar at New Delhi today. He discussed several key issues concerning the welfare of construction workers in the State.
Chairman raised several key demands and concerns during the meeting, including the need for establishing Labour Chowks, strengthening welfare measures for MNREGA workers, streamlining the Cess Portal and enhancing administrative expenditure. He said that Himachal faces natural disasters almost every year due to its difficult geographical and climatic conditions, resulting in repeated loss of life and property.
Keeping these ground realities in view, he urged that the State should be extended central benefits on the pattern of Union Territories. He also emphasized the need to enhance administrative expenditure in line with present-day requirements to enable the Board to function more effectively.
The Chairman further apprised about the reforms undertaken by the Board during his tenure. He said that the Board has initiated comprehensive physical verification of eligible workers and benefits were being released only after due verification, ensuring transparency and rightful distribution.
He said that the state government on the direction of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was providing financial assistance of rupees three lakh each for house construction to widowed, single, specially-abled and destitute women workers. The Joint Secretary appreciated this initiative and the farsighted steps taken by the state government would strengthen the Board.
He assured full support of the Ministry on matters relating to Labour Chowks and the Cess Portal, stating that all necessary assistance would be provided and that an expert team would be deputed whenever required to ensure their early and effective implementation.
The Joint Secretary assured that the proposal regarding MNREGA workers for implementing expenditure in the 90:10 ratio, as per the new law on the lines of Union Territories, would be considered sympathetically.