Dr Kekhrie Yhome addressing the consultative meeting with the buildings and construction union(s) at Hotel De Oriental Grand Kohima on July 22. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | July 22
Against the backdrop of the assurance to work towards the welfare of building/construction workers and endeavour to improve their skills, the Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (NBOCWWB) is undertaking various measures to identify and register genuine workers.
Currently, there are 12500 active beneficiaries, most of whom are believed to be fake beneficiaries including government employees who have registered as building/construction workers to avail the benefits and schemes. It was also estimated that there are about 34000 unrecognised beneficiaries in the state.
In a consultative meeting with the buildings and construction union(s) at Hotel De Oriental Grand Kohima on July 22, NBOCEWB Chairman, Dr Kekhrie Yhom said, this group of people are the most exploited sector who has temporary jobs who are at risk of occupational hazards.
Stating that most of the existing beneficiaries are ‘unnecessarily registered because of the benefits,’ Yhome maintained that new entrants will be physically verified and authenticated while the registered beneficiaries will be filtered.
Though it comes with huge challenges, Yhome said it is trying to formulate a mechanism to systemise the process of new registration with proper documentation by creating a dashboard and job tag all the members.
With 1283 recognised villages in the state, he informed that an outreach awareness campaign will be organised with focus on local workers. Following which, he said training will be provided to operate heavy machineries and modern technology used in constructions.
Yhome also said it will provide upskill training for the local workers including basic soft skill in coordination with various departments.
‘Current list will be filtered’
NBOCWWB, CEO, T Chubayanger admitted on the gaps and anomalies in the existing registered workers which were entrusted to different entities to identify workers in their respective villages and areas.
This, he said happened due to the pressure from different quarters at that point of time, especially from Supreme Court to register more workers within a stipulated period of time.
However, he said the current list will be filtered thoroughly through physical verification as “we don’t want to commit the same error in registration” adding ‘the numbers doesn’t matter, we want the right people.’
Need to create more awareness
Secretary, Nagaland Government Registered Class-I Contractors Union (NGRC-ICU), Abel Shohe said it never had any coordination meeting like this before and appreciated the board for the same.
Expressing concern on the unorganised sector, he said registration of beneficiaries can be coordinated between them. He suggested on providing identity cards and certification to the identified workers after proper documentation.
Shohe also maintained that the Board should create more awareness on the available benefits and schemes for the workers, and also screened between skilled and unskilled workers.
He also expressed concern on the non availability of local workers for operating modern and heavy machineries among the local workers, unregulated rates and wages etc.
On cess tax
As per the rule 4 of the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Rules, 1998, it is mandated for deduction of cess payable at the notified rates of 1% from the bills paid for the building and other construction work of a government of public undertaking.
Towards this, Yhome informed that it has been looking into the last three years of withdrawal authority and issuing notices to the concern departments and entities. And he expressed hope that all concern will do the needful as mandated, which is also a punishable offence under the Act.
