Guidelines for construction worker pension scheme have also been revised by state govt
Bhubaneswar: In an attempt to cover more number of construction workers under a housing scheme, the state government has revised the guidelines for Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana (NSPGY).
The Labour and Employees’ State Insurance department has issued the revised guidelines after the approval of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, an official told Orissa POST Wednesday.
As per the new norms, a construction worker registered under Orissa Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board at least for a continuous period of one year is eligible to get the benefits of NSPGY. Earlier, the minimum period was three years. Prior to that it was five years, the official added.
The beneficiaries, aged between 18 and 60 years who do not have his/her own house, will be eligible to get the grant to build houses on their own land. However, construction workers who have availed assistance under other housing schemes of either state or Centre will not get the benefit.
Under the scheme, the state government will provide `1.30 lakh in Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts and `1,20 lakh in non-IAP districts, as housing grant to construction workers through the Orissa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. The entire amount would be distributed in four installments. The Board will provide the fund to the panchayati raj department and the later will implement it, he said.
Streamlining the selection of beneficiary process, the government has empowered the BDOs to select and scrutinise the list of registered construction workers submitted by the District Labour Officer (DLO) concerned. The BDO will ensure that the construction worker has not been covered under any housing scheme of the government, the official pointed out.
The other process will be followed as per the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) of the state government.
Similarly, the state government has also revised the guidelines laid down for Nirman Shramik Pension Yojana (NSPY). As per the new norms, widows of any registered construction worker will be eligible to get the pension. Earlier, there was an age bar. But now, it has been removed to provide the benefits to widows of the workers, he said.
With the revision, now sub-collectors are empowered to select the beneficiaries for the pension scheme but collector will finally approve the list. The sub-collectors will also ensure that the identified beneficiary has not been covered under any other pension scheme.
The other criteria like annual income, residence, pension amount, etc will remain same. The pension amount is `300 per month up to the age of 79 years and `500 for 80 years and above. This was revised at par with the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY), they said.
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