Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 20 December 2023
The 27th meeting of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (ANIBOCWWB) convened on December 20th, 2023, at the Office of the Labour Commissioner in Port Blair. Chaired by Dr. Anil Agarwal, the Secretary of Labour & Employment in the A & N Administration, the meeting addressed critical issues pertinent to the extension of social security assistance to registered construction workers.
In attendance were representatives from APWD, NHDCL, various Trade Unions, and officials from the Office of Labour Commissioner. The primary agenda centered on discussions regarding the extension of benefits and assistance to registered construction workers under the Board.
Dr. Anil Agarwal, the Chairman of the Board, highlighted the imperative of ensuring the seamless extension of benefits to the registered workers. He urged members to actively propagate awareness among construction labourers engaged in various sites across the islands.
Following extensive deliberations, the Board unanimously sanctioned the release of Rs. 10.83 lakhs, catering to 44 claims filed by registered construction workers. These claims fall under specified Welfare Schemes, encompassing Death, Pension, and Maternity Assistance. The ANIBOCWWB announced its commitment to initiating the disbursement process promptly, utilizing the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Established in 2009, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board endeavors to provide a gamut of social security schemes for registered construction labourers. Presently, the Board oversees the implementation of nine Welfare Schemes, all directed toward enhancing the welfare of the island’s construction workforce.