A joint delegation of trade unions submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu through DC Mandi Arindam Chaudhary to protest stopping of benefits to MNREGA and other construction workers registered with the Labour Welfare Department of the state on Saturday .

The trade union leaders i.e state convener of Sangharsh Samiti Bhupinder Singh (CITU) ,YP  Kapoor ( INTUC) , Mangat Ram Negi ( BMS), Lalit Thakur ( AITUC) and  Sant Ram of Sarvkaamgar Sangathan through this memorandum strongly opposed the decision of the state government to stop financial assistance given to workers by the Labour Welfare Board  for the last one year.  

The trade union leaders said, “The notification issued by the state government on December 12, 2022, a day after formation of the Congress  government in the state, had deprived MGNREGA workers from the benefits being given to them on the pretext of nonpayment of cess by people involved in the construction activity.”  

They said, “A large number of applications submitted by the workers for financial assistance of nearly Rs 50 crore during the last three years have not been considered by the board and all financial assistance has been stopped.”

They accused , “ The state government has issued the notification to deny scholarship, marriage, medical and all other types of assistance to the children of laborers contrary to provision of Building and Construction Workers Welfare Act 1996 .”

The Sangharsh Samiti has also decided to launch an agitation on the issue and start a mass campaign in all districts from January 1 and hold massive demonstrations on all district Head Quarters if the state government fails to restore all benefits to MNREGA and other construction workers within a month.

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