Register MNREGA workers, government to APB&OCWWB

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, July 3: The state government has directed the Aruchal Pradesh Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (APB&OCWWB) to undertake a special drive for registering MNREGA workers who have completed 50 days of work in a year falling under the category of Building & Other Construction Works.

Since it is very difficult for a worker to approach offices situated away from their usual place of residence and work, the Board should authorize all Gram Panchayats, Municipalities and Assistant/Junior Engineers of various Engineering departments for registering the construction workers under the Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Service) Act 1996, state government spokesman Bamang Felix said here today.

The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister bam Tuki here on Thursday.

Registration of workers would be done by the Labour Welfare Board for a period of at least 3 years in one go instead of one year to reduce the burden of renewal.

The Board has also been directed to spend every year at least 20 per cent of the balance cess amount at the beginning of a fincial year on activities related to skill development of registered workers and their dependents.

The cabinet also decided to issue a notice through the deputy commissioner to all private employers/builders undertaking works costing more than Rs 5 crore directing them to register all workers engaged by them with APB&OCWWB and to ensure that no worker who has not been registered with the Board is engaged in any construction work.

Dedicated team in each district has been constituted under the Deputy Commissioners for monitoring obligations of the employers such as providing drinking water, temporary living accommodation, cretches, latrine and urils, first aid facilities and canteen at work sites, Felix added.