With Panchayat elections in the State due early next year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced a series of sops for construction and other unorganised workers.
Patnaik made a series of announcements, including pension to construction workers and scholarships to their children, in the State Assembly here.
Under this new initiative, construction workers registered under the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board would reap the benefits.
The construction workers above 60 would get a pension at par with the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY). Similarly, the CM also announced an annual scholarship for the children of construction workers studying in Classes-VI to X.
“Annual scholarships of Rs 2,000 will be given to children of construction worker families studying in Class-VIII, Rs 3,000 for Class-IX and Rs 4,000 for Class-X students. A onetime cash award of Rs 10,000 will be given to meritorious Class-X students who pass with more than 90 per cent marks. Girl students of construction worker families studying in Classes-VI and VII will be given cash incentive of Rs 2,000 per year,” Patnaik said.
Besides, a cash incentive to pregnant and nursing mothers of construction worker families would be enhanced from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 over and above the assistance given under the Mamata Yojana.
The Government also announced an increase in the assistance under the Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana by Rs 20,000 over and above the MGNREGS and Swachha Bharat Abhiyan Incentive, thereby enhancing the cost of construction of each house to Rs 1.50 lakh.
As for health facility to them, the Government also announced a medical assistance up to Rs 3 lakh for treatment of nervous disorders, cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems, cancer and orthopaedic disorders provided they are registered for at least one year with the Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.
Besides, a provision of funds for Rs 5 crore has been made for implementation of programmes under the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, the CM added.