More than 40 construction labourers who were shunned by the Office of Assistant labour Commissioner in Bhopal from issuing labourer welfare card submitted a complaint to labour Secretary Ajay Tirki on Friday.
The labourers led by Madhya Pradesh Theka Nirman Majdoor Sangathan (TNMS) alleged that labour Department officials refused to admit registration forms of more than 40 construction labourers on Thursday on the ground that these labourers did not possess mobile numbers and bank accounts.
Assistant labour Commissioner AS Dixit denied that any such thing happened. "I cannot believe that anybody in the office would ask for mobile number or bank account from any worker. Such information is only optional and no labourer can be denied registration on non-availability of this information. Besides, if anybody had a grievance, he should have first approached me instead of going straight to the Principal Secretary," Dixit told. The labourers, including 18 women are residents of Nehru Nagar, Barkhedi and Shabbeer Nagar slum localities of the city. They are mostly engaged in welding and other kind of works.
One of the labourers, Dharmendra said, "An officer said that welding workers are not eligible to apply for the card. When we showed him the rules booklet he said we have to provide our mobile number and bank account number.”
We all protested, but the officer, Kl Khichi, said that the rules have been modified, told TNMS activist Deepak, who had accompanied the workers.