Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed officials to include five lakh more construction workers in the Government’s welfare scheme during the current financial year.
Till the August-end, 20.35 lakh construction workers have been registered; and by March 31 next year, a total of over 25 lakh construction workers would be registered, said sources.
Collection of cess has touched Rs 1,256 crore by August 31; and now, the target is to collect cess of Rs 1,800 crore.
The Chief Minister has also asked the officers to ensure spending to the tune of Rs 500 crore for the construction workers, said officials who attended a review meeting chaired by the CM at the State Secretariat here on Thursday.
Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, labour & Employment Principal Secretary G Srinivas, Panchayati Raj, Secretary DK Singh, Works Secretary Nalini Kanta Pradhan and School & Mass Education Secretary Ranjana Chopra attended the meeting.
Emphasising the Government’s priority to the welfare of the construction workers, who mainly are from the poor section of the society, the Chief Minister said the officials must ensure that the benefits of the schemes percolate to the downtrodden people.
Sources said that out of the total construction workers in the State, only 8.6 lakh have been covered under different welfare schemes. The Chief Minister stressed on implementation of the schemes more effectively in Sambalpur, Baleswar, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj and Cuttack districts.
The welfare schemes for construction workers envisage security at work sites, facility for education, study materials to their wards, aid for marriage, house construction, pension and healthcare facilities.