Minister said construction labour card offers government job-like benefits, helped during COVID-19, assured issuance within week after application
GADAG
Construction workers play a vital role in building the nation, and government welfare schemes act as a strong safety net for them, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil on Friday. He was speaking at a Labor Day program organized by the Construction Workers’ Maha Sangha in the D.C. Mill compound in Gadag.
The minister highlighted the importance of education, noting that children of construction workers who scored above 85 percent in SSLC and PUC exams were honored with awards. He expressed hope that these students would achieve greater academic success in the future.
Patil emotionally praised workers, saying that roads, flyovers, colleges, temples, and museums stand as lasting symbols of their hard work and dedication. He also remembered leaders Oscar Fernandes and Mallikarjun Kharge for strengthening labor laws and ensuring social security for workers.
The minister stressed that the construction labor card provides benefits similar to a government job and proved especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. He assured that eligible workers without cards would receive them within a week after applying.
Patil announced a new residential school for workers’ children in Gadag, aimed at providing quality education. A 10-acre site has been identified, and construction will begin soon. The school is expected to start functioning next academic year. He added that educational kits worth Rs 1111 crore would be distributed across the state.
The minister encouraged students to aim high, citing a student who sought revaluation after scoring 624 out of 625. Several dignitaries, including religious leaders, officials, and local representatives, attended the event and supported the initiative for workers’ welfare.
The gathering also highlighted unity among labor groups and called for continued awareness about available schemes and rights. Speakers urged workers to register for benefits and ensure their families receive support.
The program ended with a message of dignity of labor and a renewed promise to strengthen welfare measures for the community in the coming years ahead with collective effort and responsibility from all stakeholders involved in development work across the region today and beyond.
