NBOCW Welfare Board connects schemes to workers in unorganized sector in Nagaland
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 31
The construction workers in unorganized sector in Nagaland have a great reason to rejoice as Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ (NBOCW) Welfare Board, Department of Labour has been connecting them to the welfare schemes since 2013.
The benefits under the welfare schemes includes, grant for purchase of tools, insurance cover, medical assistance, children education assistance and maternity benefit. (See box)
NBOCW Welfare Board stated that the building and other construction workers are one of the most vulnerable segments of the unorganized labour in India and Nagaland cannot be isolated.
“Their work is of temporary nature, the relationship between employer and the employee is temporary, working hours are uncertain. Basic amenities and welfare facilities are nonexistent or inadequate where provided. Risk to life and limb is also inherent,” it stated.
Towards this, Government of Nagaland has constituted the NBOCW Welfare Board to provide social security to this section of workers by implementing different welfare schemes specially designed for the purpose.
This was communicated at the three day long special camp for workers in unorganized sector which concluded here today at Indira Gandhi Stadium under the aegis of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) and NBOCW Welfare Board in collaboration with Deputy Commissioner Kohima and Kohima District Legal Services Authority.
A large number of workers in unorganized sector from Northern Angami area today joined the camp and availed on spot registration.
Similar camp was also conducted Jakhama and Sechu Zubza on January 29 and 30 respectively.
Altogether, 409 construction workers from 49 villages under Kohima district have been registered with NBOCW Welfare Board through this three day special camp.
T. Chubayanger, project officer NBOCW Welfare Board told the media persons that so far the scheme covered 7000 construction workers across the state.
He said the Board will carry forward this task in extensive manner across the state. The department is planning to cover Peren, Wokha and Mon in the next phase.
He also called upon those workers in unorganized sector to come forward and avail the scheme.
NSLSA member secretary Nino Iralu said the NSLSA has been acting as a bridge and connecting the beneficiary to the nodal department.
She said the para legal volunteers and panel lawyers have been creating awareness even to the extent of door-to- door visit to connect the genuine workers to the Welfare Board and enable them to access the available schemes.
For legal services, the NSLSA have a scheme called Legal Services to the workers in the unorganized sector. She said that when it comes to Nagaland, the construction workers are not protected by any agency and many of them don’t know how to go about searching the schemes designed for them.
She said they are daily wage earner type but they do not have stand by protection for them, no insurance etc.
“We are trying to identify the workers in unorganized sector,” she said, adding that on the basis of genuineness of the workers they forward the same to the Board for necessary registration. Earlier, Avile Vetso, assistant labour commissioner Nagaland briefed the salient feature of the schemes.
BENEFITS UNDER WELFARE SCHEMES
Grant for Purchase of Tools • Rs. 1000 as grant for purchase of tools will be provided annually subject to renewal of registration. • Insurance cover • The beneficiary gets automatic insurance cover under ”AAM ADMI BIMA YOJANA”, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mandri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) through LlCl. The annual premium is paid by the Welfare Board on behalf of the beneficiaries. Benefits: i) Natural Death Rs. 2,00,000/ ii) Accidental Death Rs. 2,00,000. Medical assistance • Financial assistance to beneficiaries, spouse and children on hospitalisation due to accident or any sickness shall be Rs. 1000 per day for the first five days and Rs. 500/per day for the next 10 days on continuous hospitalisation.
Children education assistance • Two child of a registered beneficiary studying from Nursery to Class 10 will be covered. Education assistance of Rs. 500 per child per month will be provided.
Maternity Benefit • Maternity benefit of Rs. 5000 per child delivery (Subject to a maximum of two deliveries) will be provided to the wives of registered beneficiaries and registered women beneficiaries.
How to become a beneficiary • Workers who are engaged in building and other construction work (Eg. Masons, Plumbers, Carpenters, Electricians, Painters etc. including helpers) are eligible to become a beneficiary. • All construction workers who have completed 18 years of age but have not completed 59 years of age are eligible to register. • Collect registration and nomination form from the Registering Officer (Assistant Labour Commissioner) Office of the respective districts. • Submit the filled forms to ALC Office with two passport size photo, photo copy of birth certificate (For migrant workers proof of age certificate shall be accepted only if it is from the place of origin), photo copy of Ist page of Bank Pass Book of the applicant (linked with AADHAR), photo copy of AADHAR Card and Rs. 25/as registration fee. A Certificate of proof that the applicant is actually a construction worker also should be enclosed, certified by VCC or GB or Ward Chairman in case of towns. • Rs. 300 (annual) and Rs. 25 per month to be contributed as premium.
