The Punjab government has increased the amount spent on welfare of labourers in the state from existing Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore. This development is to benefit around 6.25 lakh labourers working in Punjab and would uplift their living standards. This was stated by Forest and Wildlife and Labour Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat while addressing a press conference after chairing a meeting of labour associations and industrialists at Circuit House here on Thursday. Bhagat said that the Punjab government had started several schemes for the welfare of labourers working in the state, but the benefits were not reaching the labourers. The main objective of Thursday’s meeting was that these schemes should reach the labourers in coordination with the labour associations as well as the industrialists. He said that the Punjab government was registering the labourers working in the state, and around 6.25 lakh labourers had got themselves registered so far. Claiming that the Punjab government had increased the financial benefits given to these labourers by almost five times, the minister said that earlier a registered labourer was getting Rs 5,100 as shagun for the marriage of his daughter and now this amount had been increased to Rs 21,000. Besides, he claimed, a registered labourer is eligible for an amount of Rs 2,000 as LTA (Leave and Travel Allowance) once every two years. Earlier only daughter of a labourer was eligible for loan or shagun in case of marriage, but now the female labourer is also eligible for this scheme so that she can lead a happy married life. He said even for purchasing a bicycle, scooter or any other mode of transport, the loan amount had been increased by five per cent. For making sure that the children of labourers got quality education, the Punjab government had started a scholarship scheme.
