State funds for beedi workers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 3 SEPT: The labour department of the state organised a prorgamme at Malda Town Hall today to showcase the Revised Integrated Housing Scheme 2005 and to distribute the funds that have been allotted to the beneficiaries of the beedi industries.

The Central government had allotted funds to construct buildings for the workers of the beedi industry in the state. The estimated cost of each tenement is Rs 50,000. Out of the total cost, Central government would bear Rs 40, 000 and the state would give the rest. In four installments the district labour welfare officers would distribute the funds to the beedi workers.

Following the guidelines of the Centre, the officials of the labour department were facing difficulties on selecting beneficiaries, though huge number of workers had their names registered in government records. This if for the first time the Malda district, where more than 2.5 lakh people are engaged in the beedi industries, has taken the initiative of implementing the project. According to the assistant labour commissioner in Malda, Mr Soumyanil Sarkar, the department has started to provide financial support to at least 850 beneficiaries out of the total of 1,880 applicants across the district.

The department has already disbursed its first installment of Rs 20,000, which is Central government’s share. The department handed over a cheque of Rs 5,000 of the state government's share to each of the selected beneficiaries.

The department will allow another installment of Rs. 20,000 and then Rs.5, 000 to them in the next course of disbursement.

The procedure and format for the check-lists and utilisation certificates, for the disbursement of installments and completion certificate, shall be on the lines of those obtaining under the Indira Awas Yojona of the Union ministry for rural development.

If the tenements are not constructed and completed within the stipulated period, the amount of subsidy shall be forfeited along with penal interests that are to be determined by the Government of India.