The Hindu : Construction workers seek pension scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Construction workers seek pension scheme

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI, FEB.16 . The Construction Workers Panchayat Sangam has assailed the Government for not implementing the pension scheme despite giving an assurance to this effect in the Assembly in August, 2001.

In a statement issued here today, its State secretary, G. Natarajan, said a resolution was adopted recently expressing concern over non-payment of pension to thousands of eligible workers and demanded that the scheme be implemented without any delay.

By another resolution, the meeting sought Employees' State Insurance and Provident Fund coverage for construction workers, regularisation of wage structure, housing facility, crèche at workplace, abolition of mechanisation of construction process, accident relief Rs. 2 lakh, relief of Rs. 50,000 for natural death and maternity benefit of Rs. 10,000. The relief should be equal to both men and women.

The meeting condemned the Central Government for abandoning the Bill providing benefits to unorganised workers after taking it up for discussion thrice in Parliament and introducing a programme that did not address the problem of unorganised workers outside the ambit of employer-employee set-up.

It resolved to come out with a manifesto. To take the manifesto to a larger section of the society, it will organise street-corner meetings, cultural events and district-level demonstrations before March 10. A massive rally will be taken out in Chennai on March 23, Mr. Natarajan said. The State organising secretary, A. Santhanasamy, and all India additional secretary, R. Geetha, spoke.

Earlier, the State-level office-bearers were elected. P. Paulraj was elected president and V.P. Muthaiah treasurer. A. Sithamma and T.M. Chandran were elected additional secretary and deputy secretary respectively.

`Check hike in cement price'

The Tamil Nadu Construction Workers' Union has urged the Government to check the ever-increasing price of cement in the State. A resolution to this effect was adopted at its administrative committee meeting held here recently with its president, S. Alphonseraj, in the chair.

It sought liberal assistance from banks for purchase of construction machineries, relief of Rs. 3 lakhs to the family of construction workers in case of their death while on duty, free house site pattas and liberal long-term loans with low interest for construction of houses. They were being screened at the head office to avail the benefits of the Construction Workers' Board. The Government should issue orders ensuring scrutiny of their applications at the regional level itself.

Their other demands included grant of Rs.5000 to meet the cremation expenses and a loan of Rs. 25,000 for marriages of wards of construction workers.

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