The Sikkim Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board on Saturday approved grants ranging from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh for workers registered with the board during a meeting of the board held in Gangtok.
Sikkim Labour Minister D D Bhutia, who is also the board chairman, presided over the meeting which was also attended by Labour Secretary L P Chettri and other board members, according to an official press release.
The meeting approved Rs 1.5 lakh as permanent disability grant to the registered workers and partial disability grant up to Rs one lakh subject to submission of certificate from the medical board.
Accidental death grant of Rs 1.5 lakh was also approved by the meeting along with Rs one lakh for normal death to the registered workers.
The maternity assistance for the registered workers was enhanced from the existing rate of Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000.
The release also stated that the board further approved to provide one 42 inch LED television to all the 129 GREF sites for the workers.
The GREF representative, at the meeting, was directed to submit their requisition for the installation of mobile toilets at the required worksites.
Bhutia, keeping in view of the safety of the workers, directed the concerned GREF officer to discontinue the existing practise of workers’ transportation and provide them with safe and comfortable means of transportation.
It is generally seen in Sikkim that the GREF workers are transported in open tippers to the road construction sites.
Bhutia further directed all the board members to follow up the registration of construction and maintenance workers from the Roads and Bridges Department.