CM Rekha Gupta announces series of welfare, development measures

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced a series of welfare and development measures. These include the release of over Rs 12.40 crore as education assistance for 15,706 children of registered construction workers and the launch of rural infrastructure projects worth Rs 134 crore across 37 villages.

The announcements were made at a large public programme held at Tyagraj Stadium, where the Chief Minister also inaugurated newly constructed panchayat buildings in two villages and laid the foundation stone for 59 development projects aimed at strengthening civic amenities in rural Delhi.

Addressing thousands of construction workers at the event, the Chief Minister said the city’s growth is powered by its labour force.

“Those who build Delhi deserve our respect. Ensuring their safety, dignity and future is our priority,” she said, adding that the Government is committed to translating welfare schemes into visible benefits on the ground.

The Rs 12.40 crore transferred on Wednesday was disbursed under the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board’s education assistance scheme.

The amount was credited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries to support schooling and higher education.

Under the scheme, students from Classes 1 to 8 receive Rs 500 per month, those in Classes 9 and 10 receive Rs 700 per month, and students in Classes 11 and 12 are given Rs 1,000 per month.

Undergraduate students are eligible for Rs 3,000 per month, while those pursuing professional and technical courses such as ITI, polytechnic, engineering, medical and MBA programmes can receive up to Rs 10,000 per month.

The Chief Minister said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that children of construction workers are not forced to drop out of school due to financial hardship.

Labour and Employment Minister Kapil Mishra, who was present at the event, said that after years of stagnation, labour welfare mechanisms are being revived. He said all labour courts in Delhi are being converted into e-courts, the registration process for construction workers has been streamlined, and new skill development programmes have been launched. A dedicated helpline, 155214, has also been introduced for worker assistance.

According to official data shared at the programme, Delhi currently has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, with Rs 18,456 per month for unskilled workers, Rs 20,371 for semi-skilled workers and Rs 22,411 for skilled workers. More than 36 lakh unorganised workers have been registered on the e-Shram portal, and 1,028 children have been rescued from child labour through 72 special enforcement drives.

On the rural development front, the Chief Minister said the Delhi Village Development Board has been restructured to accelerate infrastructure growth in villages. The 59 projects launched on Wednesday, estimated at Rs 134 crore, form part of a larger push to upgrade roads, ponds, parks, cremation grounds, community centres, libraries and village meeting spaces.

Officials said 776 project proposals worth Rs 1,715.05 crore have been submitted, of which 705 projects amounting to Rs 1,556 crore have received administrative approval. An initial instalment of Rs 157 crore has been released for 702 projects.

The Chief Minister noted that Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated in the budget to address gaps in rural infrastructure.