Omar approves Rs 60 cr to give protective equipment to construction workers
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired the 22nd meeting of the Jammu & Kashmir Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (JKBOCWWB) here at the Civil Secretariat. He called for a broader and more inclusive definition of ‘construction worker’ to bring within the fold all vulnerable and unorganised sector labourers.
During the meeting, the issuance of smart cards to all registered workers was approved with a proposed budget of Rs 10 crore.
An official spokesperson said the aim of the meeting was to comprehensively review the implementation of various welfare measures and approve key initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of construction workers and their families across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister, during the meeting, lauded the board’s efforts in expanding welfare coverage to over 2.85 lakh active construction workers.
He underscored the importance of transparent, timely and targeted delivery of benefits and directed officials to widen the outreach mechanisms, streamline application procedures and ensure that no eligible worker is excluded from availing the board’s benefits.
He urged the board to explore policy mechanisms that would maximise coverage and enhance financial security for workers in alignment with national best practices and labour welfare standards.
Secretary Labour and Employment Kumar Rajiv Ranjan informed the members that the board continues to operate in accordance with the legislative mandate of the BOCW (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996. Under this mandate, the board has been providing a wide range of benefits including ex-gratia relief in cases of accidental deaths, financial support for both permanent and temporary disabilities and educational assistance for the wards of registered workers. It also offers one-time meritorious scholarships of Rs 50,000 to students securing 90 per cent and above in Class 10 and 12, in addition to marriage and maternity assistance, aid for chronic illnesses and funeral expense coverage.
The board discussed and approved a comprehensive set of agenda items during the meeting. These included the approval of scheme-wise budget proposals for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, and the transfer of Rs 17.24 crore to the Union Territory of Ladakh, in accordance with SO 339 dated October 30, 2020. The audited accounts for FY 2022–23 and 2023–24 were approved and will be forwarded to the Accountant General for certification.
The meeting also approved the integration of the board’s initiatives with broader social security and financial inclusion schemes to maximise the impact of benefits.
Officials said to improve workplace safety, the board sanctioned Rs 60 crore for the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and tools to construction workers, especially in rural areas. Recognising the need for skill development, the board approved short-term training programmes for 10,000 workers under NSDC norms, with a budget of Rs 10 crore.
Given the overwhelming response to the meritorious scholarship scheme, it was resolved to revise the framework with slabs for top-performing students across all districts based on merit, while maintaining a minimum 90 per cent cut-off.
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