Supreme Court fumes as welfare plan fails to start

On Friday the Supreme Court slammed the Centre and the states for not implementing the schemes for the welfare of construction workers despite the fact that '27,000 crore has been collected and lying in banks. The fund has been collected for the welfare of the construction workers through a cess of one per cent of the cost of construction from builders.

Hearing a petition filed by National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour, a three-judge Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud expressed serious concern for non-utilisation of the fund.

Senior counsels Colin Gonsalves and Vivek Tanka said: “All the schemes for implementation for the welfare of construction workers are not being implemented. States may not even know that there is such a scheme. Hundreds of crores of rupees are spent in construction activities and cess is collected. Tell us one state where there is a model law for proper utilisation of this fund. This is the stark reality. The fund is to be used for disbursement of money to construction workers for education, marriage and at the time of disability. But the money is kept in bank. No facility is provided to the workers.”

Not satisfied with the submissions of additional solicitor general Maninder Singh on the steps taken for proper and effective implementation of the schemes, the bench directed the member secretary, National Legal Services Authority, to interact with Union labour secretary and other stakeholders and submit a status report on how the money is being utilised. The report should also indicate the shortfall on the implementation of various schemes.

As per the 1996 law, one per cent of the cost of all government construction is to be collected as cess by states, to spend on the welfare of construction workers.

Expressing its anguish, the court said, “It is amazing what is going on. States are not doing anything and showing administrative expenditure and publicity. This has to stop immediately.” The bench posted the matter for further hearing on July 12.

Centre and States slammed by the Supreme Court for non implementation of welfare schemes despite the availability of funds. A petition was filed by the National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour whereupon a three-judge bench expressed their concern in the matter. Senior counsels Colin Gonsalves and Vivek Tanka too expressed their concerns. National Legal Services Authority to interact with Union Labour secretary and other stakeholders. Report to include shortfall on the implementation of the scheme. Further hearing to be held on July 12.