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The Delhi government has announced financial assistance of INR 8,000 for over 90,000 registered construction workers impacted by the ongoing construction ban implemented to curb severe air pollution. The decision, made during a meeting of the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, aligns with a recent Supreme Court directive. Eligible workers, identified as those with verified Aadhar-seeded bank accounts and live memberships as of the court order's date, will receive payments through direct benefit transfers. Physical and online verification processes have been initiated to ensure the distribution of funds.
Earlier this month, the Delhi government announced the extension of financial assistance amounting to INR 8,000 to over 90,000 construction workers who are registered under the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. These workers have been severely impacted by the ongoing construction ban in the city, which was imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address the rising levels of air pollution in the region. The ban has been in place for some time, causing significant disruption to construction activities in the city, thereby affecting the livelihood of workers in this sector. Advertisement
The decision to provide financial relief was taken during a meeting of the Welfare Board, which was chaired by Ashish Chandra Verma, the additional chief secretary for finance. The move comes in response to a recent directive from the Supreme Court, which had instructed the chief secretaries of the states in the National Capital Region (NCR) to appear before the court and confirm whether subsistence allowances had been provided to the workers whose employment had been affected by the construction ban. This directive was part of the Court's efforts to ensure that workers suffering from a loss of livelihood due to the restrictions were given some form of support.
According to an official document, the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board resolved to release an ex gratia amount of INR 8,000 to eligible workers. However, this disbursement will be made only after confirming the eligibility of the workers. The eligibility check will include verifying that the workers are indeed registered with the board and that they meet the necessary criteria. In accordance with the Supreme Court's order, November 25 has been designated as the cut-off date for determining the live membership status of workers. This date will serve as a benchmark to identify which workers are eligible for the assistance, with a total of 90,759 workers deemed tentative beneficiaries at this stage.
The funds will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries' Aadhar-seeded bank accounts through a direct benefit transfer (DBT) method, ensuring that the payment process is both secure and transparent. In addition to this, physical verification of workers will be conducted to further ensure that the assistance reaches the rightful recipients. These workers had initially registered based on a self-certification process, which required them to state that they had worked for at least 90 days as construction workers in the preceding year. However, this self-certification process was not subject to verification when the workers first registered. To address this, a bilingual online link has been provided on the Welfare Board's portal, enabling workers to submit their details for verification. SMS notifications have also been sent to registered workers to alert them about the verification process and guide them on how to submit their information.
This initiative is part of the Delhi government's ongoing efforts to ensure that vulnerable groups, like construction workers, receive financial support during times of crisis, especially when their income sources are disrupted by external factors like air pollution and government-imposed bans. By combining both physical and digital verification methods, the government is aiming to ensure that the process is efficient, accurate, and transparent.
The Delhi government's initiative to provide financial relief aims to alleviate the hardships faced by construction workers due to the pollution-related ban. By ensuring strict verification processes and leveraging technology for efficient fund disbursal, the government seeks to uphold transparency and accountability. This move not only aligns with the Supreme Court's directives but also underscores the administration's commitment to supporting vulnerable workers in challenging times.
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