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The Delhi government is preparing to roll out chip-enabled smart cards and a digital cess management portal to improve welfare delivery for construction workers. The initiative aims to simplify registration, reduce duplication, and ensure direct access to benefits such as healthcare, pensions, and education support. It will also strengthen cess collection from developers, which funds these schemes. With about 2.62 lakh active workers and a larger pool of applicants, the move is expected to improve transparency, plug leakages, and expand coverage, especially for migrant and unregistered workers.
The Delhi government is in the process of introducing a digital framework to streamline welfare delivery for construction workers through smart cards and an integrated cess management portal. The move is aimed at improving identification, simplifying access to benefits, and ensuring better utilisation of funds collected under the labour welfare system. Advertisement
Under the plan, registered construction workers will be issued chip-enabled smart cards containing encrypted personal and employment data. These cards are expected to act as a single-point identity across welfare schemes, reducing dependency on physical documents. Authorities indicated that the cards will require periodic renewal to keep worker records updated and active within the system.
At the same time, the government is developing a dedicated cess portal to digitise the collection and monitoring of funds contributed by builders and contractors. A 1% cess on construction costs is currently levied to finance worker welfare schemes. The new system is expected to allow online payments, improve tracking of collections, and reduce delays in fund allocation.
The broader platform will also integrate existing systems such as Karmik Sewa Kendras and labour chowks, creating a more structured network for worker registration and support services. Officials have initiated the process of appointing a technology agency to build and manage this digital infrastructure.
As per available data, around 2.62 lakh construction workers are currently active under the welfare board, while close to 19 lakh workers have applied for registration over time. The new system is expected to filter duplicate or inactive records, improving the accuracy of the database. The government is also working towards expanding coverage to nearly 30 lakh workers, with a focus on those who remain unregistered, including migrant labourers who frequently move between job sites.
The initiative also addresses concerns raised in past audits, where gaps such as duplicate registrations, delays in benefit disbursal, and underutilisation of collected cess funds were observed. By shifting to a digital and traceable system, authorities aim to improve accountability and ensure that funds are used more effectively.
In addition, the platform is likely to be linked with national databases such as the e-Shram portal, which could help in tracking worker movement across states and enabling continuity in benefits. Awareness drives are expected to be carried out to encourage both worker enrolment and compliance among builders.
Source PTI
5th Jun, 2025
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