Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) leader and former MP Rama Chandra Khuntia on Tuesday alleged that the Naveen Patnaik Government is politicising the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (OBOCWW) and using it for his party sake and dared to move court of law.
“By announcing Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana under which the construction workers, who have been registered for minimum five years under the OBOCWW, will be eligible to get Rs1 lakh as housing grant and a monthly pension of Rs500, the State Government is using the body for political purpose only,” Khuntia told reporters here.
Khuntia said, “While thousands of registered labourers both form recognised and unrecognised sectors in district levels are being deprived of Government benefits due to the monopolistic attitude of the concerned District labour Officers, the Government is sitting idle. What emergency forced the Government to announce such a package for construction labourers though there is scheme like Indira Awas and Madhu Kutira yojana for housing project.”
“Why the State Government is yet to hike the minimum wage from Rs162 to Rs205. The State Government must focus on the basic needs of the labourers instead of politicising labourers’ welfare body,” said Khuntia, daring the Government to refrain from such move in future instead they would move to court.
He also slammed the Union and State Budget maintaining that it only satisfies the corporate sectors and nothing for farmers and labourers. He also highlighted about the 13-point resolution passed at the INTUC State executive meeting head in Keonjhar.