Guwahati, Aug 14: The Assam government has expanded its welfare measures for construction workers, with more than seven lakh registered workers eligible for assistance under various schemes of the Assam Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The government has so far released Rs 773.21 crore under different welfare programmes aimed at providing social and economic support to registered construction workers and their families, Sarma said.
The initiatives are being implemented through the “Nirman Sakhi” programme, which focuses on improving the welfare and empowerment of workers engaged in the construction sector.
The welfare board offers 22 categories of benefits covering areas such as education, healthcare, financial assistance and family welfare, according to the state government. Sarma said the measures recognise the contribution of construction workers to Assam’s development, as they form a significant part of the workforce involved in building homes, roads and other infrastructure.The government has also linked the welfare programme with efforts to improve access to higher education for workers’ families.
Nine Model Degree Colleges are being constructed at different locations across the state, with half of the seats earmarked for construction workers or their family members, according to the announcement.
The initiative is intended to help children from construction-worker families pursue higher education and gain access to better employment opportunities.
Construction workers, many of whom are part of the informal workforce, can face challenges such as irregular employment, limited social security and restricted access to healthcare and education.
Through the welfare board, the state government is seeking to strengthen the social-security network available to registered workers and their dependants.
With more than seven lakh workers covered by the board, the programme represents a significant welfare initiative for one of Assam’s major sections of the informal workforce.
