Chandigarh, August 29:
Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister-cum-Chairman Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board has received the coveted SKOCH Award 2024. The award will be conferred at the 99th SKOCH Summit on September 21, 2024 in New Delhi.
Notably, established in 2003, this award recognizes people, projects and institutions that contribute to India’s betterment. It is also seen as a benchmark for best practices in areas such as governance, finance and technology.
Providing information in this regard, Cabinet Minister Mrs. Anmol Gagan Maan said that different departments across various states submitted nominations for the SKOCH award this year.
She said the Punjab B.O.C. Welfare Board of the labour department, which works for the welfare of construction workers, has submitted its nomination in the “Labour” domain under the category of “Labour Policy Development and Implementation,” with the project name “Building and Other Construction Worker Welfare Schemes.”
A panel of jury members, comprising retired bureaucrats and eminent dignitaries, evaluated the project, she said, adding that the board highlighted efforts undertaken across seven principles of good governance for the empowerment and welfare of construction workers. The presentation was subject to popular voting, in which Punjab secured the highest votes, followed by Maharashtra. After these three rounds, the Order of Merit was bestowed upon the Punjab B.O.C. Welfare Board.
The Cabinet Minister said it is noteworthy that the Board had simplified the terms and conditions of its welfare schemes last year and many new provisions were added, especially in the Stipend, Shagun and Ex-Gratia schemes. The waiting period for applying to welfare schemes was eliminated and the application tenure for welfare schemes was extended to one year. Moreover, for the convenience of workers, the declaration regarding work proof can now be attested either by the contractor or by authorities designated by the Board, she added.
The Cabinet Minister also lauded the efforts of Secretary of Labour Mr. Manvesh Sidhu and Labour Commissioner Mr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta for this achievement.
