Punjab Government Removes Service Requirement for Labour Stipends
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a landmark decision, the Punjab government has eliminated the two-year service condition for labourers to access stipend schemes for their children. This initiative aims to provide immediate financial assistance for education, enhancing the welfare of the labour community.
Key Takeaways
- The Punjab government has abolished the two-year service requirement for labourers.
- Labourers can now access stipend benefits from the day they start contributing.
- A budget of Rs 2 crore has been allocated for awareness and camps.
- The marriage certificate requirement for the Shagun scheme has been removed.
- Quarterly meetings of the Punjab Labour Welfare Board will be held.
Chandigarh, Feb 7 (NationPress) In a significant move aimed at enhancing the welfare of labourers, the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, announced the removal of the two-year service requirement for labourers wishing to benefit from stipend schemes for their children.
During a briefing, state Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond indicated that this change would provide considerable advantages for labourers, who previously faced mandatory conditions for eligibility.
This decision was made during the 55th assembly of the Punjab Labour Welfare Board.
Minister Sond highlighted that the stipend schemes are designed to offer financial support for the education of labourers' children, allowing them to access these benefits from the moment they begin contributing.
Additionally, several important initiatives were introduced in the meeting, including efforts to spread awareness of the available schemes at the community level. Sond mentioned that a budget of Rs 2 crore has been allocated for awareness campaigns and for organizing camps, with Rs 1 crore dedicated to each of these initiatives to aid labourers.
Furthermore, the requirement for a registered marriage certificate to access the Shagun scheme has been eliminated. Now, labourers can obtain benefits by submitting photographs of the religious venue and the officiants who conducted the marriages. This change aims to ease the process for labourers who previously encountered difficulties in obtaining a registered marriage certificate.
The minister also called for quarterly meetings of the Punjab Labour Welfare Board. It was resolved that the contribution amount to the fund would be raised starting April 1 to enhance the financial stability of the board.
