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Bhubaneswar: Construction workers got a bonanza on the eve of International Workers’ Day, which is celebrated May 1, with the state government Saturday announcing sops including pension, annual health assistance and scholarship for their children studying in high school.
Registered construction workers who are at least 60 years old will receive pension that will be at par with Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the Assembly.
The state government would also provide scholarships of `2,000, `3,000 and `4,000 per annum to children of construction workers studying in class VIII, IX and X respectively, the Chief Minister said. A one-time cash award of `10,000 will be given to Class X students belonging to families of construction workers who pass with more than 90 per cent marks, Patnaik said.
Daughters of construction workers studying in Class VI and VII will be given cash incentives of `2,000 per year.
The state also enhanced the cash incentive meant for pregnant and nursing mothers belonging to families of construction workers from `8,000 to `10,000 over and above the assistance given under the Mamata Yojana, the Chief Minister said.
“The scale of assistance under the Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana will be enhanced by `20,000 over and above MGNREGS and Swachha Bharat Abhiyan,” Patnaik said.
Medical assistance of up to `3 lakh would be given for treatment of nervous disorders, cardiovascular diseases, kidney ailments, cancer and orthopaedic disorders to construction workers who are registered for at least one year with the board, he said.
A provision of `5 crore has also been made for implementation of programmes under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, according to the Chief Minister.
Patnaik said these measures, which will be effective from May 1, 2016, will be in addition to the benefits that
the workers have been getting from the Orissa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
