Cess for Gujarat construction workers: Spending less than 10%; no 'direct help' to beneficiaries

By A Representative
While the Gujarat government’s Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, set up in 2004, as of March 31, 2019, has collected a total cess of Rs 2,097.62 crore from the the builders, it has spent less than 10% -- Rs 197.17 crore. And, as on May 31, 2019, the total cess collection has reached Rs 2,583.16 crore, said a statement issued by Bandhkam Majur Sagathan general secretary Vipul Pandya.
Pointing out that just about 6.5 lakh out of 20 lakh workers have been registered under the board, Pandya said, vis-à-vis other states, Gujarat ranks No 13th in the amount spent on the welfare of the construction workers, while 11th in the amount collected.
And while the builders are obliged to pay just about 1% of the total cost of their project, the calculation of the cess is flawed: It is Rs 3,000 per square yard; accordingly, Rs 30 per square yard is collected. “Had the cess been collected on the real construction cost, it would have been at least Rs 7,000 crore”, Pandya added.
Pandya complained, most of the amount spent on the cess has gone to areas not directly related with construction workers’ welfare. Thus, Rs 39.75 crore has been spent on the Shramik Annapurna Yojna, seeking to provide cheap cooked food to construction workers.
This is followed by Rs 27.48 crore is spent construction workers’ education, Rs 9.80 crore on their coaching classes, Rs 6.41 crore on Dhanvantari Rath provididing mobile health facilities at construction facilities, and Rs 5.43 crore on temporary shelter.
As against this, the board has spent just about Rs 2.10 crore on pregnant women during child birth, Rs 66 lakh as emergency help, Rs 39.53 lakh for the Nanaji Deshmukh housing, and so on. \
“There appears to be huge corruption in the disbursement of funds”, Pandya alleged. “Spending on education and coaching is all diverted to private agencies. Again, while private parties have been paid Rs 9.80 crore on educating workers about safety norms, they are not being paid the stipend, as required”, he said.
“Similarly, while the government is spending huge sums on providing cheap food under the Annapurna Yojna, most workers do not benefit from it”, he added.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh* Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.

Counterview

Search This Blog