Labourers in Mandi benefit from Rs 8 crore welfare funds
A one-day awareness camp was organised by the Himachal Pradesh Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board in Lower Rewalsar village, Balh sub-division, Mandi district, on Thursday. The event was attended by Nardeep Singh Kanwar, Chairman of the Labour and Workers Welfare Board, who was the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, Kanwar emphasised that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state government has launched several welfare schemes aimed at improving the lives of registered workers and their dependent children. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to uplifting every section of society and providing social security to those in need.
Kanwar highlighted that nearly 88,000 workers and labourers are registered in Mandi district. Over the past year, the state government has provided approximately Rs 8.26 crore in financial assistance under various welfare schemes. In the Balh sub-division alone, about 7,000 workers have been registered, with all eligible individuals receiving benefits.
Detailing the financial aid available, he mentioned that registered workers and their dependent children receive Rs 51,000 for marriage expenses, while a similar amount is granted for the birth of a girl child. Additionally, Rs 25,000 and Rs 7,000 are provided for maternity and paternity benefits, respectively. For higher education, children of registered workers can receive up to Rs 1.20 lakh in financial assistance. The government has also allocated Rs 4 lakh for the construction of permanent houses for single women in every Panchayat.
Kanwar further elaborated on the eligibility criteria for registration with the Himachal Pradesh Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board. Workers aged between 18 and 60 years who have been employed in building or construction work for at least 90 days in the past 12 months qualify for registration. He assured attendees that under Chief Minister Sukhu’s leadership, every worker in Himachal Pradesh would be empowered to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Sanjeev Guleria, Chairman of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, also addressed the gathering, praising the government’s focus on welfare schemes and rural development in the upcoming financial year’s budget. He noted that several new initiatives have been introduced for the benefit of the needy and destitute.
Earlier, District Labour Welfare Officer Anil Thakur welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries. The event was attended by officials from municipal and gram panchayats, women from self-help groups, Mahila Mandals, and numerous workers and labourers from the region.
