Srinagar, Oct 19: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday called for massive awareness about the benefits available to the workers force under Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Act (BOCWWA). He directed the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board to launch a campaign in this regard across the State.
 Omar Abdullah said both the government and the private agencies engaged in the construction works should be sensitized about their mandatory requirement to register their establishment and workers under the Act. “Labours should be universally apprised of the benefits they can avail under the provisions of Act in case of injury or death, as also for the welfare and education of their children”, he added.
 Chief Minister was taking stock of the functioning of Jammu and Kashmir Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board at a meeting here.
 Omar also directed for incorporating the requirement of payment of one percent cess for the welfare of registered workers force in the Notices Inviting Tenders (NITs) so that contractors are aware of their responsibility of paying cess towards the welfare of workers force.
 The schemes available under the Act for the welfare of workers force should be regularly publicized through print and electronic media as also through other means of publicity, the Chief Minister emphasized adding dissemination of the information down the line and mass awareness was imperative to ensure benefits of the Act to the beneficiaries.
 Omar stressed on proper auditing and management of cess amount adding the disbursement should be strictly transparent and up to the mark. He asked the Board to ensure that the beneficiaries under the Act receive benefits regularly, properly and in a transparent manner.
 The Chief Minister also asked the Board to issue circular regarding the requirements for the Government Departments engaged in construction works for the registration of their establishment and the workers force. “The concerned Administrative Secretaries would disseminate it to the subordinate offices and agencies for necessary action”, he added.
 Commissioner Secretary Labour and Employment, Yedullah gave resume of the provisions of the Act and the functioning of the Board.
 Labour Commissioner, Shahid Anayatullah said under the J&K Building and Other Constructions Workers Welfare Act, the registered labour was entitled to ex-gratia relief of Rs One lakh in case of death, Rs 75,000 in case of permanent disability, Rs. 10,000 in case of temporary disability and Rs 5,000 as immediate relief. The Act also provides for grant of Rs. one lakh to a registered labour for the medical treatment, Rs. 50,000 aid for the education of his ward in a professional collage, Rs 15,000 for post-graduation and Rs 10,000 for graduation.
 The Act also provides for financial assistance to the pregnant ladies of the workers, and for the marriage of their wards. The labours are only required to get themselves registered with the Board. The details about other benefits and registration can be ascertained from Telephone No. 9469212388.
 Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Education, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, Minister for PHE, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretaries and Commissioner Secretaries of various departments were present in the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST