JAMMU: In order to support labourers and construction workers during Covid-19 pandemic, the Labour Department J&K has disbursed an amount of Rs 15.24 crore among more than 1.52 lakh labourers @ Rs 1000 per worker during the month of April this year.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced a slew of measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and among those is one-time relief for registered constructions workers and labourers for procuring essential commodities during the duration of the disease’s spread.
It is worth mentioning that Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan has already issued several directions to the department to provide relief and also to mitigate problems and issues faced by the labour force of the country and J&K in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Advisor, who holds the charge of Labour Department, has also asked the department to extend medical assistance-cum-facilities to these stranded labourers.
The department has reached out to Interstate Migrant Labourer locations while ensuring that no one is left without ration, safe drinking water and other basic amenities. The district administration in coordination with Labour Department has provided ration to 12,066 labourers in the UT on April 29, 2020.
The department has also dedicated seven help lines established for migrant inter-state workers and two for labourers from J&K stranded in various parts across the country.
The callers through its help lines were apprised about the standard operating procedure issued by the Government and accordingly connected with the concerned district administration for adequate relief-cum-arrangement.
During April 2020, the nodal officers have received 1994 calls on these helpline numbers involving 56705 migrant labourers putting up in various parts of the J&K UT.
Likewise, the department also established help line for migrant labourers of J&K stranded in various parts of the country in view of the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
700 calls were received up to 29th April 2020 by helpline involving around 40160 migrant workers of Jammu and Kashmir requesting for food, shelter, transportation, evacuation etc.
Further, the departmental nodal officers apprised the callers about the SOP issued by the Government subsequently approaching the control room & nodal officers of the State/UT where the callers are stranded for adequate relief-cum-arrangement.
Last month 297 calls were received by the nodal officer involving 13318 labourers.
Also, the department has started a process for interstate migrant workers housed in the camps run by Govt or NGO, individually on rented accommodations and those whose have been provided shelter by employers, including information/data regarding their occupation, residence address, native districts, state and bank details as per a devised format in three categories and till date 69864 labourers were identified as per category wise.
Similarly, the Labour Department has also shared the call details received with Resident Commissioner’s office, J&K, New Delhi.
Moreover, the data is being shared on daily basis, so that RC office at their level can also approach the respective States/UTs for appropriate help to distressed labourers of J&K.
Apart from the helplines established by the department, Assistant Labour Commissioners, who are closely working with the District administrations were also assigned the job of help-cum-assistance to the interstate migrant workers and Migrant workers of J&K stranded in various parts of the country.
Subsequently a total of 35460 interstate laborers have approached the District Officers for help assistance till April 29, 2020.
