The Federation of All India Construction and Unorganised Workers Associations here has urged Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to form a separate department for the welfare of construction workers along the lines of the departments for the welfare of adi-dravida and backward class.
R T Palani, founder president of the federation said a resolution to this effect was adopted at the executive council meeting held recently. He said over 50 lakh workers have registered themselves in the welfare board for the construction workers and another 2 crore in the unorganised sector welfare board.
The State government should offer sand for free to help people who were constructing houses. The State government should allow free excavation of soil from tanks and ponds, to help bring down the prices of bricks, they said.
The federation urged the CM to allocate 10 per cent of the revenue from stone and sand quarries for the benefit of the welfare board. It suggested that the renewal process of membership in the board should be simplified. The federation suggested that a fee be collected for membership. The State should also enact a law to protect the interests of construction workers, besides enabling them to enjoy ESI, PF, housing, monsoon relief, etc.
The federation demanded the removal of GOs 122,123,124. They said only educational assistance was extended to wards of workers while other benefits such as solatium due to natural or unnatural death and marriage assistance were getting delayed.
The monthly pension for the aged workers should be hiked to Rs 2,000 from the present Rs 1,000, the federation said further.