Andhra Pradesh   

Cess on all civil works to net Rs. 500 crore: YSR

Special Correspondent

This will be used for welfare of building workers

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government has imposed a one per cent cess on all civil constructions across the State and intends to raise Rs. 500 crore per year. This will be used for welfare of building workers.

This was announced by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while giving away the Shram Shakti awards at the May Day celebrations here on Tuesday. The decision is a follow-up of the Government's resolve to implement the Andhra Pradesh Building and Other Constructions Welfare Board Act enacted in 1996. "At present, more than Rs. 50,000 crore worth of construction works are going on in the State," Dr. Reddy said.

The Government has also constituted the Building Construction Workers Welfare Board with S. Gopal of Visakhapatnam as chairman. The Chief Minister said a high-level official committee had been set up to study the problem confronted by the workers in unorganised sectors. The team would tour other States and replicate the model being implanted there.

Dr. Reddy expressed the hope that the Centre would withdraw its order on the "danger mark" on beedi bundles. "We are confident that the Centre will shortly heed to our plea," he said and added that the State Government was toying with the idea of providing skill development programmes for the beedi workers. "A number of apparel and textile parks are coming up in the State, in which trained women can be provided employment. The other option is to provide loans as part of self-employment programmes," he said.

Labour Minister G. Vinod and Special Chief Secretary, Asha Murthy explained the initiatives taken by the Government to improve the workers' living conditions.

Dr. Reddy later gave away Shrama Shakti awards to 24 employees and 14 best management awards to companies.

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