Department gets notice over paid jab to workers

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 31

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the Labour Department on a petition against spending welfare money of the construction workers on Covid vaccination.

The petitioners, construction workers, had challenged the government’s decision for paid vaccination of the workers, who had prayed that the amount for vaccination of workers should be refunded to the Labour Welfare Board.

Transferred Rs7 cr

• The Labour Dept had transferred Rs7.04 cr to the Health Dept for vaccination of construction workers
• The Labour Welfare Fund was spent when other beneficiaries were receiving vaccination for free
• A notice has also been issued to the Health Department and the BOCW Welfare Board

In its notice, the court said workers, through their learned counsels, contended that as they were registered under Section 12 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, the amount, therefore, collected for the benefit of the construction workers could not be siphoned off towards any other head of expenditure. The court has also referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in this regard.

The decision to bear the cost of vaccination from the Labour Welfare Fund was taken on May 7 under the Chairmanship of then Chief Secretary.

Vijay Walia, an activist fighting for the rights of construction workers, said: “When the entire population was getting free vaccination, the state government charged the poor workers for the Covid jab. An inquiry should be conducted into the matter.” Vikas Garg, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, said: “When the construction workers were vaccinated, the Centre was not providing vaccine to the state for free.”