The 11th meeting of Himachal Pradesh Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board was held here today under the chairmanship of Joginder Singh Verma, Chairman of the Board.

Presiding over the meeting, Verma said that the issue of acquiring land on lease for construction of the office of the Board and Labourer Hostels at Shimla and Baddi would be taken up with the State Government. He said that identity cards would be provided to registered beneficiaries and approval was accorded to provide a financial assistance of Rs. 1500 to children of the beneficiaries for various ITI curriculum.

He said that the registered labourers have been brought under the National Health Insurance Scheme and Janshri Insurance Scheme and added that a provision of providing maternity benefit of Rs. 10,000 to registered female beneficiaries and Rs. 1000 for males had been made. He further said that loan assistance of Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 6,000 had also been made for purchasing or constructing house and starting new business.

He said that 25,000 new members would be added to the Board during the current year and cooperation of NGOs would be sought for registration of labourers and generating awareness among them.

An estimated budget of Rs. 61.70 crore for 2012-13 was approved in the meeting. S.R. Sipahiya, Secretary of the Board conducted the proceedings. Bharti Sihag, Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment, Mohan Chauhan, Labour Commissioner, A.C. Dogra, Secretary, Law, Amitabh Awasthi, Special Secretary, Finance, Members of various Trade Unions and officers of concerned departments attended the meeting.