Chandigarh, January 23: Punjab Chief Minister CaptainAmarinder Singh has announced a hike from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000 in the Shagunamount for the marriage of daughters of construction workers in Punjab from April 1, 2021, while also approving Rs 1500 infinancial aid to such workers or their family members who test positive forCovid.
This was decided byChief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh while chairing the 27th meeting of theBuilding and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board through VideoConference on Friday evening.
Further, to ease the process of availing the Shagun benefit,the Chief Minister has approved modification in the existing conditions to makevalid marriage certificates issued by any religious body - Gurdwaras, Templesand Churches – acceptable for thepurpose. While 50% payment can be availed in advance the rest shall be providedon submission of the marriage certificate by the competent authority under therevised rules. Daughters of those registered with the Building and OtherConstruction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board are eligible under the scheme.
In another major decision, the Chief Minister also announcedcompensation worth Rs. 2 lacs in case of death of a worker in an accident whileworking in construction activity even if he/ she was not registered with theConstruction Board, provided he/ she is otherwise eligible to be registered asa construction worker.
According to an official spokesperson, Captain Amarinderalso announced extension in time-frame from the existing 6 months to one yearfor submission of application for benefits under various welfare schemes asmany workers could not apply in time due to the Covid situation. Further, theconstruction workers have been allowed to prefer an appeal to the SecretaryBoard within a period of 120 days instead of 90 days in case their pensionapplication is rejected by the Screening Committee. Under the Balri (FemaleChild) Birth Gift scheme, the Board has also decided to enhance the time limitfor submission of application from six months to one year from the date of thedelivery of the girl child of the beneficiary.
In another relaxation to rules for availing benefits undervarious schemes, construction workers can now submit any 2 of the fourGovernment documents, namely Aadhaar card, Pan card, Voter card and Rationcard. Many workers could not avail benefits earlier for lack of a birthcertificate, which was the only acceptable proof prior to this amendment.
The Board, at its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister,also announced a hike in the annual stipend, to Rs. 35,000 from Rs. 25,000 forboys and to Rs. 40,000 from Rs. 30,000 for girls pursuing Degree/ Post Graduatedegree courses in pharmaceutical/ Para Medical studies. Hostel stipend has alsobeen increased to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 40,000 per year for boys and Rs. 55,000from Rs. 45,000 for girls studying in Degree/ Post Graduate degree courses inpharmaceutical/Para Medical studies. For medical and engineering students, thehike in annual stipend for boys is from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 and for girlsfrom Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000, with hostel stipend increased to Rs. 70,000 andRs. 80,000, respectively. Also, to encourage meritorious children, the Boardhas now approved that a claim must be made within one year instead of sixmonths from the declaration of results in case of these meritorious children orfrom the receipt of the award by sportspersons from district, state or nationalauthority.
Further, the Board has now allowed construction workers torenew their membership within a period of one year to enable them to continueto apply and avail financial benefits under various welfare schemes during thegrace period of one year. A series of relaxations have also been announced withrespect to insurance and other benefits in the case of death of disability, aswell as LTC benefits, reimbursement for medical aids, financial assistance forcremation and last rites, aid for mentally retarded/handicapped children,maternity cover etc.