‘State spent Rs 814 cr for welfare of workers’

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said welfare of labouers is a top priority of his Government and informed that as many 11.52 lakh beneficiaries have been benefitted under the Nirman Shramika  Kalyan Yojana (NSKY) and Rs 814 crore spent for the purpose.

Patnaik said this while inaugurating the International Labour Day at the Jayadev Bhawan on the day.

Labour and ESI Minister Sushant Singh and Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman Subash Singh, Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balkrishnan, Principal Secretary and Labour and ESI Secretary Anu Garg were present.

Patnaik said his Government upholds the dignity of labour and salute the working class, who are creating new Odisha by their sweat and hard work.

He said at least 17 different types of welfare benefits under the NSKY have been given to 11.52 lakh beneficiaries registered with the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. A total of Rs 814 Crores have been spent for the purpose, he said.

He said his Government has taken seasonal migration from western and southern Odisha very seriously and initiated steps to mitigate the distress migration.

“A pilot project is going on in Balangir and Nuapada districts in collaboration with the Tata Trust and in convergence with line departments. About 9,000 children of migrant workers were retained in seasonal hostels to ensure their education as their parents migrated. Thus, potential child labour has been prevented,” said the Chief Minister. Efforts are on to make Odisha a child labour-free State.

Patnaik felicitated four eminent trade union leaders, Bidyadhar Barik, Ramesh Chandra Jena, Srinivas Rao and Jatindra Nath Ray with ‘Biju Shramika Bandhu Award’ for contribution towards the welfare of working class.

Various initiatives were launched on the occasion, informed the Labour Commissioner Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.

Centres named ‘Shramika Sarathi’ were launched at Kantabanji (Balangir), Padmapur (Bargarh) and Balugaon (Khurda) to disseminate information on safe migration and counselling of migrant workers.

A community radio programme, ‘Shuna Shramika, was opened to disseminate information about pro-labour policies and schemes of the Government.

Online benefit module for BOC workers was initiated to ensure hassle free facilities for registered members of the OB and OCWW Board. The facility would be available at 7,000 Citizen Service Centre (CSC).

A website, nirmanshramika.com, was created for wider publicity of pro-labour initiatives of the Government.

Besides, a 45-day campaign against child labour was launchedby the Labour and ESI department in collaboration with civil society organisations.

Rallies, sensitisation workshops at district level, mock children assembly, human chain, discussions with stakeholders, drive to detect child labour and other programmes to be undertaken.

The campaign would culminate on June 12.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Labour Commissioner Sachin Ramchandra.