Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring a special ordinance so that funds available with the Building and Other Workers Welfare Board can also be used for the welfare of unorganised and other workers.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said about Rs 582 crore is available with the Himachal Pradesh Building and Construction Welfare Board.
The number of migrant and unorganised workers in the state is very high and in view of the economic condition of the state government, the need is to provide help to the poor labourers.
The Chief Minister said under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act of 1996, there is a provision to use this amount for the welfare of buildings and other workers.
But it can only be used for registered workers, which is also the order of Supreme Court.
Thakur said the state has provided minimum wages and basic services to the workers of industrial and all other sectors of the state.
He said the state has sanctioned Rs 2,000 crore to the registered building and construction workers from the Building and Construction Workers Welfare Fund for March and April and this amount is being transferred directly to their bank accounts.
