BOCW has so far distributed Rs. 19 Cr. to construction workers in Pune

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Pune June 18, 2019: The labour department through Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCW) has so far distributed Rs 19 crores in Pune to over 34,000 construction labourers in the form of various benefits, informed Shailendra Pol, Additional Commissioner of Labour at a programme organized by CREDAI Pune Metro on Monday in the city.

In order to promote the legal rights of the building construction labourers through advocacy actions, CREDAI- Pune Metro urged contractors to get them registered under BOCW board for various privileges. Over 200 contractors attented the programme. Vikas Panvelkar, Deputy Commissioner of Labour, M.A. Mujawar, Government Labour Officer, Suhas Merchant, President CREDAI-Pune Metro, J.P. Shroff, Chairman Labour Welfare Committee, Parag Patil, Convener of the Committee, other CREDAI members including Ranjit Naiknavare, Aditya Javdekar, Sameer Belvalkar along with Dr. D. K. Abhyankar, General Director, CREDAI Pune Metro, Urmila Julka, General Manager, CREDAI Pune Metro and Sameer Parkhi, Labour Welfare Officer of CREDAI Pune Metro were present among the dignitaries.

If the labourers get registered under BOCW board, then they will be given various benefits including aid in education for their children, healthcare, home building assistance, mid-day meal and a safety and essential kit.

Shailendra Pol, Additional Commissioner of Labour stated, “The contractors are the bosses of the labourers and so it is their duty to check if the workers are registered or not. If the workers are not registered, then the developer will be considered a defaulter. Through the schemes of BOCW, we’ll take half of the responsibility of the workers. If the workers are benefitted, then they will offer more quality work with a worry-free mind.”

Besides the labourers, even watchmen, plumbers, electricians, stone cutters, painters, clerks and those who are involved in the construction work can also get registered under BOCW board.

Speaking at the event, Suhas Merchant, President CREDAI-Pune Metro said, “We want to promote the legal rights of the workers. By registering under the BOWC, these workers will be entitled to many privileges and we should make them aware about that.”

J.P. Shroff, Chairman Kushal and Labour Welfare Committee said, “We, at CREDAI want to reach out and cater to the labourers in every way we can. Many of the labourers are migrants and they are also entitled for the benefits of BOCW board if they are registered here in Maharashtra.”

For the registration, the labourer will have to be older than 18 years of age, submit a bank statement, a contractor’s certificate along with a registration form for which he will be charged for only Rs. 25 as registration fees and Rs 12 as annual fees.

Ramesh Sutar, a contractor said, “After we came to know about the benefits of the scheme, we got over 50-60 labourers registered. I suggest that even if a labourer is not permanent he should still get registered.”