Marriage Assistance to 3.40 Lakh building and other construction workers put in abeyance in 2017 hits labourers under belt
We are reviewing it and marriage assistance cases will be taken into account: CEO J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Munir Ul Islam
Reyaz Rashid
Srinagar: Pushed to wall due to financial strain during Covid-19 pandemic, more than 3.40 Lakh building and other construction workers and labourers in Jammu and Kashmir are running from pillar to post as they have been deprived off marriage assistance provided to them for their marriage or the marriage of their dependents.
According to the construction workers, Jammu and Kashmir Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board have stopped the welfare scheme of marriage assistance in 2017 after some bungling of funds marriage assistance various districts.
Under marriage assistance the scheme, registered construction workers or labourer is provided Rs 25000 financial assistance for marriage of their marriageable dependent be it son or daughter and brother or sister.
“We are poor labourers and our marriageable daughters are waiting for their weddings. It has been four years we are not in position to bear the expenses of marriages of our daughters and other dependents,” said Mohammad Ramzan Malla, a construction workers whose daughter got married this week.
“There are thousands of files pending for payment of the assistance in difference Assistant Labour Commissioner Offices and more than 400 marriage files pending in ALC Office in Baramulla,” added Malla.
Sources in the Labour department said that financial relief assistance provided to the workers during the Covid-19 pandemic is yet to be disbursed among the registered workers as welfare measures in various districts.
When contacted Director Finance Labour and Employment Department Barkat Hussain said that there was some bungling in marriage cases in some districts of Jammu and Kashmir due to which the marriage assistance temporary stopped and it will be reviewed.
Chief Executive Officer/Secretary (CEO) J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Munir Ul Islam said that marriage assistance has not stopped but put in abeyance after allegations of bungling in marriage assistance cases in some districts in 2017.
“The scheme has not been closed but put in abeyance. The marriage assistance scheme is under review in the broad and guidelines are being formulated fresh. I hope the welfare scheme for wedding of dependents and daughters of construction workers will be reviewed and restarted this year cases of 2020-21 will be taken into account,” he added.
Replying to the query about the verification of construction workers in DC offices, he said that they are being asked to get dependent certificates only from DC offices rest ALC is empowered officer to verify the labourers.