Lok Sabha Debates
Need For Special Insurance Scheme For Construction Workers In The Country. on 10 June, 2014
an> Title : Need for special insurance scheme for construction workers in the country.
*m01 SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN (SRIPERUMBUDUR): Thank you, Chairman Sir. On 28th June, a really sad tragedy took place in my Constituency that is Moulivakkam when an eleven storey building was collapsed. A very heavy rain slashed Chennai, killing 61 constructions workers belonging to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and injuring 27 others.
The hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Amma, has taken timely decision and saved 27 human lives. The State Government clarified that the building complied with the norms of construction and the building was as per the terms and conditions of the CMDA. Moreover, our Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Amma had constituted an SIT probe into this matter. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Amma distributed Rs.7 lakh each to the families of these 14 construction workers, amounting to Rs.98 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as compensation. Amma also gave Rs.50,000 each to 27 injured persons, totalling to the tune of Rs.13.5 lakh.
This building collapse has brought to light the plight of the migrant workers. In search of livelihood, people from other States go and work, wherever they get employment. … (Interruptions)
HON. CHAIRPERSON : Please conclude now.
SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN: Please allow me some more time.
The migrant workers, who are unorganized and unskilled labour, are the backbone of not only the construction activity but also other infrastructural projects.
Hence, I would urge upon the Union Government to set up a Special Fund for the construction workers or some sort of a Special Insurance for them so that in case of any emergency, they would depend on this Fund.