CHANDIGARH--    The Punjab Government, in a bid to provide safe refuge to the construction workers and labourers, would set up labour sheds and night shelter across the state incurring to Rs. 10 crore. It was disclosed by Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat Labour Minister in a press communiqué, after presiding over a high level meeting of the department. The Minister also issued instructions for the officers to implement Punjab building and other construction workers welfare act-1996 in true spirit.

            The Minister asked the officers to expedite the work on various development projects being run by the labour department. He said that the department would also spearhead a campaign to check the menace of child labour at the same time efforts would also be made for the rehabilitation and study of the child labourers. He said that some NGOs have been operating schools for imparting education to the child labourers. Divulging the detail he said that in District Amritsar 40 schools have been started the NGOs whereas in Jalandhar 27 and in Ludhiana 30 schools are been run by these NGOs. In which 1950, 1350 and 972 students have been imparting education respectively. He said that the department has been in the process of registering 1, 01,267 construction labourers as beneficiaries of the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

The Minister said that for the construction of labour sheds & Night Shelters for a cluster of 50, 100 and 150 construction workers, the Punjab Government would incur Rs.16.15 lakh, 24.60 Lakh and 29.58 lakh respectively.The Minister asked the officers to publicize various welfare schemes started by the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board for the construction workers like scholarship schemes, credit schemes and other welfare schemes. Prominent among other who will present in the meeting included Mr. Viswajeet Khanna, Principle Secretary Labour, Mr Harish Nayer, Assistant Labour Commissnor, Mr. Sodhi Mal, Assistant Director Factory and Mr. Jaccob Partap, Deputy Labour Commissioner.