MP to link labourers' wages with consumer price index

In poll year, govt announces free housing, exclusive academy for wards of labourers

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday announced a slew of measures for workers, including consumer price index (CPI)-based wages for labourers registered with the government.

Other announcements include Rs 100-crore academy for wards of labourers, free housing, a new pension scheme and increased post-partum financial assistance.

"All labourers registered with the government, will receive wages linked with the consumer price index (CPI) or inflation. If inflation shoots up, they will get more wages," Chouhan announced here while holding forth to a mega gathering of labourers from across the state.

Elections to the state Assembly are due later this year. "We have reserved an area of 36 acres and a fund of Rs 100 crore for the purpose. We want children of labourers to have an opportunity to pursue good education. This institute will impart them quality education to pursue careers in various professions and public services. Besides, each division of the state will have a skill development centre. These centres will be in addition to the exiting industrial training institutes."

A contributory pension scheme is also being mooted, Chouhan promised and said, "If a labourer becomes disabled due to age, he will get a minimum Rs 4,000 pension provided he deposits Rs 500 per annum from an early age of 35. The government would ensure minimum pension to all those who cannot work."

Also promising quality housing to urban poor labourers and rural labourers, Chouhan reiterated, "I am once again promising that no labour or poor will be removed from where he is already living. Those who have no land in urban areas will be ensured houses up to Rs 3,00,000 and the government would create 10,000 two-storied houses. Further, all those who will employ labourers in any activity will be asked to make temporary housing facility for labourers."

"I will make sure that no one sleeps on the footpath," Chouhan said adding, "In no condition will any labourer be removed from his dwelling. However, if the government requires their land for a public purpose, they will be given alternative accommodation at government's cost."

He further announced it was the state's responsibility to check labour migration but it would make sure that those who work in other states get all those facilities available while they were at home.

Announcing more freebies to students, Chouhan said, "If a student of a labour family gets admission in a medical college and engineering college, he will be given Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,000 respectively. Also, we have plans to create a Super-50, Super-500 kind of scheme, so that meritorious students of labour families can get better education and training. In case a student from a labour family clears the Union Public Service Examination, he will get Rs 50,000 and if he clears state public service he will get Rs 25,000."

Chouhan also offered a loan facility up to Rs 50,000 for labourers if they want to buy equipment necessary for their work.

"The state government will chip in the required margin money up to Rs 20,000 and if necessary the government would offer more," he announced further.

He also announced facilities which were so far restricted to registered labourers who had two children, would be extended to those with more children.

"If you have three children or more, you will get same facilities like post-partum support in the form of one month wages to the mother and 15 days' wages to the father. It is now the state government's responsibility to ensure a neo-natal care should be given to the mother for at least one month," he told the gathering.