Opposition Leader of Delhi Assembly contest over use of Labour Welfare Fund by Delhi Government

Opposition Leader of Delhi Assembly contest over use of Labour Welfare Fund by Delhi Government
For the rights of 12 Lakh contruction worker, Sh. Vijender Gupta will meet Deputy Governor tomorrow
New Delhi, 26th June, 2016: The Opposition Leader of Delhi Assembly, Sh. Vijender Gupta will meet Deputy Governor on Monday (27th June, 2016) to oppose the Delhi’s government’s move of taking out Rs. 1000 crore from Labour Welfare Fund out of the total Rs. 2000 crore for enforcing and implementing schemes in other ministries and department, rather than on welfare of 12 lakh construction workers in Delhi.

Sh. Gupta said it is unconstitutional to spend the fund of Building LabourCess Fund on other departments. He has demanded that Deputy Governor should immediately direct the Delhi Govt. to return Rs 1000 crores spent in other departments out of the Building LabourCess Fund as the Govt. has committed contempt of court orders dated 21.8.2015 and 4.9.2015 by misusing their offices. Hon’ble Deputy Governor should order filing of a case against the CM and the Labour Minister for punishing them for misusing their office. Case be filed against the CM and the Labour Minister for misuse of their offices. Under Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Emplyment, Shri A.K. Singh has passed an order on 7th June, 2016 that expending the money out of Labour Welfare Fund on other departments is illegal.

He added that Labour Minister Gopal Rai constituted a committee on 15.6.2015 to spend 1000 crores out of Building LabourCess Fund for schools, hospitals, temporary accommodation etc which was totally illegal and is misuse of office. Kejriwal government has not spend even a single penny from The Labour Welfare Fund, worth Rs. 2000 crore for welfare or providing houses to the 12 lakh construction workers in Delhi. In a board meeting held on June 2, 2016, Kejriwal’s government proposed to allocate and divert Rs. 1000 crore on Public Works Department, Education department, Health department and Women and Child Development. We cannot simply divert the money meant for one particular section of society. This decision will have a direct impact on 18 schemes meant for the welfare of construction workers in Delhi.

Shri Gupta said that Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board was constituted in the year 2002. A cess of one percent was imposed on owners of all building schemes in Delhi for welfare of labour and their families. A sum of Rs 2000 crores has been collected in the fund till now. But out of this huge fund, AAP Govt. has spent only 61 crores so far. Rs 11 crores have been shown towards administrative expenses which include expenses on breakfast, lunch, dinner etc of minister of the department and its officials.

It is a hard fact that there are a total of 12 lakh building labourers working in Delhi but at Vikas Bhawan Headquarters of the board, only 1, 52,289 live labourers are registered till 31 Mar 2016.. Total number of labourers registered till this date is 3, 56,521 but 2, 04,242 labourers are either dead or left the work and returned to their states. 8, 50,000 labourers are still to be registered because it is not easy for the poor labourers to get them registered. Only those labourers are able to get registered who approach the staff through brokers to Greece their palm. Those who are not able to please the staff are turned away.

Shri Gupta told that there are 18 schemes with the Board for welfare of building labour, but during last 14 years only 380 women have been provided facility of maternity benefits. Out of 3, 50,000 registered labourers, only 49 labourers have been given pension. 361 labourers were given aid for cremation of their near relatives. Families of only 391 labourers, who were victims of accidents or died naturally, received financial aid. Only 4 labourers received therapeutic assistance. 877 children were provided assistance for education for study. Board provided assistance for marriage of their children to 81 labourers. Only 15 labourers received financial aid for purchase of their tools.

He demanded that the Deputy Government must order Delhi Govt. to hold camps at various places to register all 12 lakhs working labourers within 30 days and ensure payment of minimum wages notified by the Govt. for them. Conducive conditions should be created to provide education, health, nutritious food and respectable life to their children and families. All building labourers should be provided cheap houses through special schemes to be run by the Govt.