Skip to main content

No list? Gujarat govt 'delaying' payment of cash benefit to construction workers

By A Representative
A Gujarat-based unorganized workers’ association has revealed that the state government has still not released Rs 1,000, to be paid cash to the nearly 65 lakh workers who had been working the unorganized sector, even though an announcement for this was made by chief minister Vijay Rupani on March 26, 2020, one day after India-wide lockdown was announced.
Vipul Pandya, director, Bandhkam Majur Sangathan (BMS), who wrote a letter to the state labour secretary, said, the delay in payment, meant as relief to the unorganized sector workers after they were thrown out of job following the lockdown, has been caused because of the state government claims it does not have the list of persons to whom the amount should be paid.
“The state labour department has asked all districts to prepare a list of beneficiaries for the entitlement, which is strange, considering that several lakh unorganized workers in Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, where a similar announcements were made, have already begun the process of paying cash”, Pandya told Counterview.
In Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan and Punjab the cash amount is Rs 3,000, while in Uttar Pradesh it is Rs 1,000, and the amount is being distributed “without waiting for the preparation of a list with documents, considering the dire circumstances in which the unorganized sector workers have been pushed into”, Pandya asserted.
Vipul Pandya
Disputing the Gujarat government claim that it does not have the list of those who should be paid the amount, said Pandya, “This is just not true. There are over 6.34 lakh construction workers registered with the Gujarat Building & Other Construction Labour Welfare Board.”
He added, “The state government has all the details, including their address, bank account, aadhaar number. Moreover, an amount of Rs 2,900 crore, collected as cess from the construction industry, is lying idle with the board. The process of paying the amount should begin with this section. Hence there is little reason for the delay.”
“Surprisingly”, Pandya said in the letter, “As per the information we have received, the board has instructed the district level project manager to prepare an updated database of beneficiary workers registered with the board at. Even a fortnight after the process began, there is no movement.”
The letter asks the government to make the payment to workers who were registered with the board over the last three years without any delay, following which an advertisement could be placed in electronic media, and publicized through the social media, asking those who have been left out to send their identity card and bank account details via WhatsApp to allow the government to make more payments.

Comments

TRENDING

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

A matter of deep concern: The silent struggles of India's visually impaired women

By N.S. Venkataraman  Visual impairment is one of the most severe forms of physical disability that afflicts humanity, and its impact is even more acute when it affects women. The burden becomes overwhelming when visually impaired women also belong to economically weaker sections of society, with little or no financial or institutional support. Their struggle for dignity, survival, and identity is often invisible—hidden in plain sight across cities and rural corners alike. And yet, these women form a large, neglected segment of society not just in India, but around the world. In India, governmental assistance to visually impaired persons exists but remains minimal. While policies are framed with good intent, they often fall short in implementation. More importantly, no real distinction is made between the unique challenges faced by visually impaired men and women. This gender-blind approach to disability support overlooks the compounded social vulnerabilities that women face due to...