Rs 38,000 crore construction workers cess not utilised yet: PM Modi

TIRUPATI (ANDHRA PRADESH): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the states to fully utilise the fund available for the welfare of construction workers, along with ESIC and Ayushman Bharat schemes.
Delivering the inaugural address through a video link to the two-day national conference of labour ministers and secretaries here, the PM pointed out that building and construction workers were an integral part of the country's workforce. “There is a cess available for these workers. I am told that a sum of Rs 38,000 crore is not yet utilised by the states,” the Prime Minister said. It was very important that the cess be fully utilised for the welfare of the construction workers. “States have to ensure that maximum number of construction workers get benefited from the cess. You need to focus on that,” Modi added.
He also asked the states to focus on Employees State Insurance Scheme, along with Ayushman Bharat (health) scheme. Summing up, the Prime Minister said the collective efforts of everyone would play an important role in realising the true potential of the country.