Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday launched a Pucca Ghara Yojana (concrete housing scheme) for construction workers of the State.
The Government has decided to provide an assistance of Rs1 lakh to each registered construction worker for construction of a concrete house.
“My Government wants that all construction workers of the State should get a house of their own,” said Patnaik while addressing a gathering on the occasion of the start of Nirman Shramik Seva Saptaha (Construction Workers’ Service Week) here.
In the first phase, nearly 1,200 registered construction workers would get the financial assistance.
“Out of 12.6 lakh registered construction workers, 2.5 lakh have received Government benefits in about Rs90 crore in different sectors,” said Patnaik, adding that the Government would provide Rs10-crore assistance to over 25,000 registered construction workers.
Stating that the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board has provided identity cards to more than 10,000 eligible construction workers, he said the Government has decided to set up skill development centres in all 30 districts to enhance the skills of construction workers.
In order to ensure wellbeing of construction workers working outside the State, Patnaik said the State Government has signed agreements with the Odisha Shramik Sangathan in Chennai and Bengaluru for the purpose.