Chandigarh July 17: Haryana Government has decided to constitute Social Audit Committees at block level comprising eminent personalities of the society to ensure transparency in the registration of building and other construction workers as well as disbursement of various benefits to them under different welfare schemes run by State Government.
A decision to this effect was taken in the 18th meeting of the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal here today. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Krishan Kumar was also present in the meeting.
At present there are 8,56,980 Building and Other Construction (BOC) Workers registered in the State and they are being provided benefits ranging from Rs 1250 to Rs five lakh under 24 different schemes. The Social Audit Committees would make sure that registration of workers engaged in the construction works are done in a fair and transparent manner and only the actual beneficiaries are getting the benefits, said the Chief Minister adding that higher educated persons, retired engineers, members of Block Samitis and a member appointed by the concerned Deputy Commissioner would be among the members of the Audit Committees to be constituted at the block level.
It was also decided to give three months time to the building workers whose online applications for registration are under objection due to incomplete applications, non-payment of registration fee and for not submitting requisite documents so that they could become eligible for registration. The Chief Minister also directed to explore the possibilities of hiring vacant government buildings on rent for providing facility of night shelter to those construction workers who come to different cities in Haryana in search of work.
It was informed that the State Government has started a pension scheme for the registered building workers. Under this scheme, monthly pension of Rs 2500 is given to those registered workers who have minimum three years regular membership and have completed 60 years of age provided that he or she is not availing the same benefit from any other Department, Board or Corporation. Apart from this, Mukhya Mantri Mahila Nirman Shramik Samman Yojana has been implemented under which financial assistance of Rs 5100 is provided to the registered female workers for the purchase of saree, suit, chappal, raincoat, umbrella, sanitary napkin and kitchen utensils. The facility is being every year at the time of renewal of membership. Similarly, under the Kanyadan Scheme, register workers are being provided financial assistance of Rs 51,000 on the marriage of daughters of the register worker. This financial assistance is transferred directly into the bank account of eligible beneficiary thorough DBT atleast three days prior to the date of marriage of daughter.
It was also informed that under the Mukhya Mantri Samajik Suraksha Yojna, financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh is provided in case of death of a registered worker due to an accident on the work site. The assistance is payable to his or her nominee or legal heirs. It was informed that as the untimely death of registered construction worker before attaining the age of 60 years becomes an impediment for the survival of the family, the financial assistance for education, marriage, disability and health would continue even after the death of construction worker.
It was informed that the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board is running 20 Creches or Day Care Centres for the children of construction workers. Apart from this, the Board is in the process of establishing 22 Construction Workers Skill Development Centres that is one at every district headquarter. Skill training in construction trades would be imparted free of cost to the registered construction workers in these Centres. Also, there is a provision of wage loss compensation during the training period alongwith a free toolkit after the successful completion of training.
Among those present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad, Principal Secretary, Labour Mr Vineet Garg, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr V. Umashankar, Labour Commissioner Mr Nitin Kumar Yadav, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mrs Ashima Brar and members of Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.