Raipur, Sep 17 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday announced three measures for workers, including modern labour facilitation centres in cities, an e-bike assistance scheme for registered workers and doubling financial assistance for e-rickshaw purchases by unorganised-sector rickshaw drivers to Rs 1 lakh.
Addressing a state-level workers’ convention held on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti at Sardar Balbir Singh Junega Indoor Stadium here, Sai said the government’s objective is not merely to provide financial assistance but to bring lasting positive changes in the lives of workers and their families, an official statement said.
“Providing social security to workers, quality education to their children, self-reliance opportunities for women and avenues for youth to progress are among the government’s priorities for building empowered worker families. Workers have contributed through their labour to building a prosperous and developed Chhattisgarh,” he said.
Asserting that workers would play an important role in realising the goal of a developed state in the coming years, CM Sai said, “In the true sense, our workers are the Vishwakarmas of a developed Chhattisgarh,” he said.
Announcing the measures, Sai said modern labour facilitation centres equipped with basic amenities would be established in cities where workers gather while looking for employment.
The centres will have seating arrangements, clean drinking water, mobile charging facilities and other essential amenities, he said.
He also announced an e-bike assistance scheme for registered workers to facilitate their daily commute and strengthen their livelihoods.
“For unorganised-sector rickshaw drivers, the assistance provided for purchasing e-rickshaws will be increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. This will help traditional rickshaw drivers adopt modern means, increase their income and strengthen self-employment,” he said.
At the event, Sai transferred more than Rs 51.32 crore through direct benefit transfer into the bank accounts of over 1.43 lakh workers under 26 schemes run by different boards of the Labour Department.
He also distributed assistance and materials to beneficiaries of various worker welfare schemes.
Sai said 67 welfare schemes are being run for registered workers through three boards of the Labour Department, covering areas ranging from social security and education to marriage assistance and economic empowerment.
More than Rs 1,000 crore has been provided to workers through various welfare schemes during the last two-and-a-half years, he said.
Referring to measures taken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for workers’ social security, Sai said the One Nation-One Ration Card system had benefited workers who travel to other states in search of employment.
Sai extended greetings to PM Modi on his birthday on behalf of the people of Chhattisgarh and wished him a healthy and long life.
On the occasion of PM Modi completing 25 years in constitutional office, Sai and thousands of workers present at the conference lit earthen lamps as part of the ‘Aashirwad ka Diya’ initiative and wished the prime minister good health and longevity.
On the occasion, the CM handed over keys of e-rickshaws to 100 women beneficiaries under the Didi E-Rickshaw Assistance Scheme and flagged them off, the release said.
Sai and Labour and Industry Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan also took a ride in the e-rickshaw of beneficiary Yashoda Vishwakarma and interacted with the women beneficiaries, it said.
Sai also had lunch with women workers who had come from different parts of the state, it said. PTI TKP BNM
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.