Mumbai: Ahead of Lok Sabha (LS) polls, the state government on Thursday launched a special scheme for construction workers in the state called “Atal Aahar Yojana,” which will provide good quality, hygienic food to construction workers.
The Atal Aahar Yojana will be implemented in some areas of the state on a pilot basis and later, the scope of the scheme will be expanded. In the first phase, the target is set to 20,000 workers at a nominal cost of Rs 5.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the Atal Aahar Yojana in Nagpur. “Nearly 10 lakh labourers have been registered with the Labour Board in the state so far. However, we will not stop at just registering their names; we will also try to provide benefits of every welfare scheme to them.”
Under the Atal Aahar Yojana, construction workers will be provided nutritious food at their workplace for just Rs 5. The scheme will transform the lives of these labourers, said Mr Fadnavis.
The state government will provide all possible help in terms of education, income and health to construction workers. It is already providing a subsidy of Rs 4.5 lakh to labourers for house construction, he added.
Under the Shramev Jayate Yojana, a pension of Rs 3,000 is given to construction workers above the age of 60 years. Under the scheme, 2.5 lakh labourers have been registered so far. We plan to register about 24 lakh labourers in the near future, said the CM.
Under the Jan Aarogya Yojana, the labourers are provided with medical facilities up to Rs 1.5 lakh. Whereas under the Shramev Jayate scheme, the labourers will be provided pension. In case of the labourer’s death, pension will be given to his widow, he added.
