The total number of workers registered with the Jammu and Kashmir Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (JKBOCWWB) stands at 5,32,279, out of which 2,78,114 are active as of now, the J&K government stated in response to an MLA’s query in the Assembly.
The response was given to M.Y. Tarigami, MLA from Kulgam, in a starred question, to which the Minister in charge of the Labour and Employment Department provided a written reply. Tarigami had sought information on multiple aspects, including the welfare schemes of the JKBOCWWB and the delay in the formation of the Labour Board.
The government stated that the proposal for the reconstitution of the Board of Directors (BoD) is under active consideration.
Regarding financial allocations, the government revealed that ₹23,154 lakh was allocated for various schemes in 2023-24, including education assistance, death and funeral assistance, chronic disease assistance, and disability assistance. The total expenditure for these schemes across all 20 districts of J&K was ₹21,366.69 lakh.
“As many as 3,96,504 beneficiaries availed the education assistance scheme, 544 cases were settled under death and funeral assistance, 342 registered workers received chronic disease assistance, and 371 workers benefited from disability assistance,” the government said.
Providing details about cess collection and expenditure from 2010-11 to 2023-24, the government reported that total receipts, including cess, amounted to ₹2,09,847.469 lakh, while the total expenditure during this period stood at ₹1,15,383 lakh.
Govt also said that JKBOCWWB is continuously taking measures to encourage the construction workers for registration with JKBOCWWB, Registration of a worker with JKBOCWWB makes a worker eligible to avail the benefits under the schemes of the Board.
“Awareness programmes are regularly conducted on this behalf in every district of the UT to generate awareness among the workers and to educate them about the aims, objectives, programmes and the benefits extended by the Board,” the answer added.
