At the 16th Building & Other Construction Workers (BoCW) Monitoring Committee meeting, held earlier this week, full (100 per cent) coverage was sought for building and other construction workers in India,under the Social Security Schemes so that they also benefit from health, insurance, and accidental benefits cover. The need to leverage technology to enhance the functioning of the Welfare Boards was emphasised. Additionally, emphasis was laid on the need to train construction workers in safety measures and modern building techniques, while also spreading awareness regarding minimum wages and timely payment of wages.
Besides the amendment to the ‘Model Welfare Scheme’ for coverage of registered BoCW Workers under the central social security schemes ( PMJJBY/PMSBY/PM-JAY/PMSYM), the need to use the BoCW Cess Fund for the construction of educational institutions/ schools was discussed. The states and Union Territories have been called upon to ensure proper utilisation of the BoCW Cess Fund for this purpose so that the workers and their children and families can benefit. The matter of integrating and onboarding BoCW data with the eShram Portal was discussed.
Other issues that were brought up included CAG audit and social audit, as well as data submission on BoCW MIS Portal. The issue of automatic transfer of benefits to BoCW was also pondered over during the meeting.
During the meeting it was mentioned that about 5.73 crore workers were currently registered with the BoCW Welfare Boards across the states and Union Territories. Based on the data available regarding the cumulative amount of balance funds, there is reportedly enough resources available for the welfare of BoC workers, provided the fund is used mindfully so that the workers that have not been covered yet can be covered under the schemes.
The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment Sumita Dawra, and attended by DG Labour Welfare, other senior officers of the Ministry, additional chief secretary/ principal secretaries/ labour commissioners of the states/UTs, secretaries of BoCW Welfare Boards, central welfare commissioners, as well as representatives from National Health Authority, and Department of Financial Services.
