BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said Odisha will play a key role in strengthening India’s future through technology, skill development and labour welfare.
Addressing the 21st triennial conference of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in Puri, the chief minister said there have been rapid changes in global economy driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and quantum computing, requiring workers to upskill and reskill.
The chief minister welcomed the prime minister’s internship initiative, aiming to provide internships to 10 million youth in top 500 companies over five years. Highlighting Odisha’s industrial growth with projects worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore initiated in the last 20 months, Majhi said investment worth Rs 20 lakh crore are expected in the coming years. The CM also outlined the state government’s labour welfare measures, including the implementation of four labour codes, social security, health facilities and overtime provisions.
Stating that Odisha government has taken several steps for labour welfare, providing benefits to over 51 lakh workers under the Odisha Construction and Other Workers’ Welfare Board, Majhi said these benefits include education and marriage assistance for their children and compensation up to Rs 6 lakh in case of accidental death.
Addressing the inaugural session, Union minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, said the welfare, dignity and security of workers remain central to the government’s vision of national development.
The minister said that BMS is not only the largest trade union in India, but also among the largest organisations in the world, and has played an important role in furthering workers’ welfare.