Dehradun: While addressing the gathering at the launch of Labour Service Mobile App, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on 10th of April, stressed on providing skill-based training to workers in accordance with local requirements in order to curb migration from the hills in particular. In addition, the CM also simultaneously transferred more than Rs 17 crores into the bank accounts of 8,005 workers through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The app is developed by the Uttarakhand Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.
On this occasion, Dhami directed the Board to expand its outreach to ensure that a greater number of workers benefit from the welfare schemes intended for them. He observed that in an effort to ensure transparency in the distribution of financial assistance, the offline system had been discontinued and replaced with an online mechanism, enabling direct transfer of funds into the accounts of beneficiaries through DBT. He also shared that, so far, a total of 11,828 beneficiaries had received financial assistance amounting to Rs 29.89 crores through this process, while, today, 8,005 beneficiaries were provided Rs 17.25 crores. Overall, during the past six months, financial assistance amounting to Rs 47.14 crores had been disbursed to 19,833 beneficiaries.
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He instructed the officials to focus on skill development for the workers and their dependants, with particular emphasis on equipping local labourers with skills such as plumbing, electrical work, masonry and carpentry to generate employment opportunities within their own native regions and curb migration. He also underlined the growing potential of employment in yoga and wellness sectors and directed that in the upcoming academic session, children of the workers should be provided free training in these fields.
He further emphasised that the Board should explore avenues to facilitate overseas employment for construction workers and their dependants after imparting the requisite skills and he suggested that this should be pursued through agencies registered with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The CM also called for linking workers with the PM SVANidhi scheme and stressed the importance of periodic health check-ups, directing that medical examination facilities be arranged at work sites themselves to ensure that workers’ employment is not disrupted.
On this occasion, Labour Commissioner PC Dumka stated that, through the UKLCCMS portal, around 16,000 establishments have been registered so far, generating a fee collection of Rs 80 lakhs, while the Board had accumulated a total cess fund of Rs 324 crores, which is being utilised for the welfare of workers. He added that to enhance transparency in the distribution of materials among construction workers, an online system was being developed, which would ensure delivery through live photographs and geo-tracking. Deputy Commissioner Vipin Kumar and other senior officials of the Board were also present on the occasion.
