New Delhi, Aug 8 (NationPress) - On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta delivered a powerful critique of the former AAP government, accusing it of making superficial promises regarding workers’ welfare without implementing any tangible solutions.

During an Assembly session discussing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, which focused on the welfare of building and construction workers, CM Gupta highlighted that a staggering Rs 5,200 crore remained unutilized in the labour welfare fund. Meanwhile, countless workers were left awaiting essential support and benefits.

She emphasized what she described as the anti-worker mentality of the previous administration, pointing out that while the Central government offers registration and renewal services to workers free of charge, the Delhi government under its former regime charged fees of Rs 25 for registration and Rs 20 for renewal.

“This unjust burden resulted in only 7 percent of workers’ data being renewed annually in Delhi, in stark contrast to the 100 percent renewal rate at the national level,” she noted.

CM Gupta further criticized the negligent and anti-labour stance of the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. She pointed out that it was only due to the Supreme Court intervention that these issues were brought to light, despite the Delhi Government sitting on substantial funds designated for labour welfare.

She recounted how the Supreme Court chastised the Delhi government, questioning why each worker received only Rs 2,000 when the approved aid was Rs 8,000.

“What happened to the remaining Rs 6,000?” the court inquired, highlighting the failure to provide complete benefits.

CM Gupta lamented that despite rightful access to these schemes, millions of workers in Delhi were deprived of their entitlements.

She stated that the Rs 5,200 crore remained stagnant while the working class awaited relief. Ultimately, the Supreme Court had to direct the government to credit Rs 8,000 into the accounts of 90,000 eligible workers.

Referencing the CAG report, the Chief Minister outlined how funds allocated for various initiatives like maternity benefits, disability support, tool purchase, housing assistance, family pensions, accident compensation, and skill development remained either unspent or severely underutilized over multiple years.

“For example, under the Tool Assistance Scheme, not a single worker received the promised Rs 20,000 between 2018 and 2024, despite the critical nature of such support for worker self-sufficiency,” she stated.

“Likewise, financial aid of Rs 1 lakh under the Permanent Disability Scheme went entirely undisbursed for several consecutive years. In terms of medical assistance, no benefits were provided in the years 2018, 2019, 2022, or 2024—figures that the Chief Minister called ‘shocking’,” she remarked.

Other programs such as coaching support, skill training, travel passes, and emergency aid for female workers during miscarriages were also reduced to mere token efforts. Reiterating the unfair registration and renewal fees, CM Gupta pointed out that such policies further discouraged workers from remaining enrolled in the system.