Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Take Welfare Measures For The Welfare Of Construction Workers. on 3 August, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> title: Need to take welfare measures for the welfare of construction workers.
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE (KALYAN): we have been talking endlessly about creation of a better environment for the workers. We have also initiated Skill India Mission to increase skilled manpower.
We have a huge industry called construction and employs a large number of workers approximately around more than 2 crores. In 1996 we thought about the welfare of these construction workers and passed a legislation creating a cess on construction to the extent of 1% on the cost of construction. The cess is collected by the States and ‘Boards for Construction workers’ are provided this amount so that they can organize welfare measures for registered construction workers.
There are 9 major benefits starting from marriage gift to hospitalization and finally Skill Development Training. However authentic data indicates that the States that collect highest amount by way of this cess spend minimum on the welfare of construction workers. With a collection of 3558 crore in three years, Maharashtra has spent just 6% of this amount. With Karnataka 5%, Uttar Pradesh 13% and Haryana 4.5%, Kerala has spent around 94.7% of the cess amount for welfare activities for construction workers.
Gist of the matter is that 11 States that collect a whopping 82% of Cess collected at the national level spent only 16% of the same for welfare activities. Where does the money go then? Details in this regard may be provided.
We speak of skill development but we are not even informing the construction workers that they can receive skill training with a stipend of Rs. 300 per day with the cost of training to the extent of Rs. 7,000 being paid to the training centre.
Hence, I urge the Government of India to put in place strict norms so that the interest of poor construction workers are protected fully as has been done in Kerala.