In an unprecedented move, the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board has begun enrolling workers under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-GRAMG)—formerly MGNREGA—making them eligible for BOCW welfare benefits.
Sardara Singh, the president of the Dr. Ambedkar Workers Union, Punjab, called the move a misuse of funds. “This violates the new labour code. The board granted ex-post facto approval to count work performed under the rural employment scheme as qualifying experience for registration. Following the approval, the chief minister directed the rural development department to organise a mass registration drive.
The decision has drawn strong opposition from trade unions, who contend that enrolling VB-GRAMG workers will dilute benefits meant for genuine construction workers and violate the statutory requirement of 90 days of work experience in construction. The decision was approved during the 31st meeting of the Punjab BOCW Welfare Board on June 6, chaired by chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who serves as the board’s ex-officio chairman. Through this initiative, the welfare board aims to expand its registered workforce from roughly 3 lakh to 10 lakh.
Funds collected specifically for the welfare of construction workers should be used exclusively for them, not diverted to workers who do not meet mandatory eligibility criteria,” he said. Clarifying the drive’s status, officials said workers are currently only being registered; once enrollment is complete, they will become eligible to apply for various welfare schemes. “The board considered the agenda item and gave ex-post facto approval to the proposal that the work performed by workers under Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (formerly MGNREGA) shall be considered as acceptable criteria for registration with the BOCW Welfare Board, as these workers are engaged in building and other construction works under the said schemes, according to minutes of the meeting accessed by Hindustan Times.
