Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday (June 6, 2026) announced a massive enrolment drive to register and revalidate 10 lakh construction workers free of cost across Punjab, while directing officials to take welfare schemes directly to labourers through special camps in villages and urban areas.
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Chairing a review meeting of the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers’ (BOCW) Welfare Board, Mr. Mann said the Punjab Government is committed to ensuring that every construction worker receives social security benefits, welfare assistance, and opportunities for skill development. “It is unfortunate that despite the availability of ample funds, welfare schemes for labourers have not achieved the desired success due to long processing times,” he stated.
Mr. Mann also noted that the coverage of the welfare schemes had to be expanded. He also notified the officials to organise more registration camps to improve registrations.
One of the reasons, as stated by Mr. Mann, that deters eligible workers from enrollment is the registration fee of ₹145. He added that applicants would not have to pay this fee during the Mass Registration Campaign. “Around 10 lakh workers will be enrolled or revalidated during this campaign, and the Punjab Government will bear the financial implication of nearly ₹15 crore,” said the Chief Minister.
He further said that the Punjab Government will continue supporting workers even after registration. Officials have also been directed to improve facilities available to labourers at Labour Chowks.
Emphasising the importance of skill development, the Chief Minister directed the Board to share details of 50,000 live registered construction workers with the Punjab Skill Development Mission.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure that women labourers benefit from the Punjab Government’s flagship welfare initiatives.
Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and other senior officials were present during the meeting.
Published - June 08, 2026 11:37 am IST
Chandigarh / Punjab / welfare / labour
Source: The Hindu - India News
