There is big news for crores of workers of the country associated with building and other construction works. Now the amount of government schemes will come directly into the bank account of the laborers under DBT i.e. Direct Beneficial Transfer Scheme. In lieu of the tools, cycles, etc. given to the laborers, they will now be given money in the account itself. They will be able to buy tools and more according to their needs.
In a recently issued order, the Ministry of Labor and Employment directed the State Welfare Board (SWB) to give the scheme amount money through DBT directly to their bank accounts instead of distributing goods and household articles to BOC workers. is. In this regard, orders have been issued on March 22 to the Chief Secretaries of the States, Principal Secretaries (Labor), Labor Commissioners and the State BOC Labor Welfare Board.
Decision was taken on complaints of disturbances
Some time ago, there were cases of disturbances in the cognizance of the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Many State Welfare Boards used to issue tenders to buy lanterns, blankets, umbrellas, tool-kits, utensils, bicycles etc. instead of giving necessary benefits like life insurance, health insurance, disability cover, maternity benefit and old age pension to the workers and those Were spending on Since the procurement process is completed in many stages, there is a possibility of irregularity from purchase to distribution. In view of this, now the decision of DBT has been taken.
Cash order restrained
The Union Ministry has stopped the transfer of money in cash form immediately by giving an immediate order and has directed to give any kind of financial assistance to the workers only through DBT. The new order prohibits the delivery of goods or equipment.
The order also states that the distribution of goods can be done only except in accidents due to natural calamities, epidemics, fires, occupational hazards or similar other hazards and only with the prior approval of the State Government. This exemption has been granted only because no compromise can be made with the welfare of construction workers in exceptional circumstances.
Mazdoor Welfare Boards have the right
Section 22 (1) of the Act lays down the functions of the Welfare Board of the States on a large scale. Sub-sections (A) to (G) empowers the State Welfare Board to spend cess fund on pension, group insurance scheme, scholarship to children of laborers, medical expenses, maternity benefit and loan for house construction.
Sub-clause (h) allows the Board to spend cess on such other welfare measures and facilities as may be prescribed as an exception. It was observed that the Welfare Board of some states resorted to this sub clause of the Act and used the cess fund arbitrarily. This amount was used to buy utensils and other items instead of being used for the welfare of construction workers.
Special emphasis on social security
The order emphasizes that other benefits being given to construction workers registered under section 22 (1) (h) of the Social Security Coverage Act prescribed under sections 22 (1) (a) to (g) remain as before. Will remain. After meeting these priority expenses given in Sections 22 (1) (a) to (g) of the Act, the use of any balance of the Sub-Fund, as per the order given under Section 22 (1) (h) Can be done to give additional benefits.
Monitoring of spending methods
In order to monitor the expenditure pattern in these schemes, the ministry has asked the state board to submit an annual return on the details of such items. As per law, public and private construction works are levied at the same rate of one per cent by the state governments.
Explain that for the welfare of construction workers, the state welfare board used it well during the lockdown of 2020 during COVID-19. For this, on 24 March 2020, all the states affected by the Ministry of Labor were advised to provide financial assistance to the affected BOC workers from the welfare fund through DBT.
The welfare boards of most states provided assistance to the registered workers between Rs 1000 and Rs 6000. As per the latest data, about 1.83 crore construction workers were disbursed Rs 5618 crore through DBT to their bank accounts by the states welfare board.
