MUMBAI: Construction workers across Maharashtra cannot apply for educational benefits for their children even four months after the state government introduced a new system for applications in July this year. The problem is, the portal is still not fully functional, leaving workers unable to apply for financial assistance.
Shankar Pujari, state convenor of the State Construction Workers’ Union Joint Action Committee, said, “The government announced the revised schemes in July, but there is no working portal to submit applications. However, construction workers’ unions are upset with the removal of benefits for younger students and the delay in applications. Pujari also questioned the reduction in assistance for students in some categories. A system upgrade is underway and the portal will be available for applications soon.”
He said around 330,000 applications were pending across the state and nearly 90% of applications examined were rejected. He added that the total expenditure on educational assistance in the last 15 years had not crossed ₹ 1,500 crore.
Even registration and renewal are facing problems,” he said. A senior labour department official said, “The new schemes are more beneficial for labourers.
The government has decided to instead provide school supplies, stating that children in this age group already receive free education under the Right to Education Act. The Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board was set up to provide welfare benefits to registered construction workers. Under the revised scheme, students from Class 1 to 8 will no longer receive direct financial assistance. Earlier, students up to Class 7 received ₹ 2,500 every year. The board uses funds collected through a 1% cess on construction project costs to run various schemes for workers and their families. Following changes under the Social Security Code, 2020, the government decided to revise educational assistance for the first two children of registered workers.
