Labour Minister Addresses Welfare Measures and Issues in Winter Session
Chirag Gupta
Patna: During the 208th Winter Session of the Bihar Legislative Council, Labour Resources Minister Santosh Kumar Singh provided key updates while addressing questions related to worker welfare and safety. He highlighted the government’s commitment to enforcing labor laws and ensuring proper compensation for workers under various schemes.
Responding to Legislative Councilor Shashi Yadav’s query, the minister clarified that the Patna Metro Rail Project is being executed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, a Central Government undertaking. He assured that labor laws under Section 44 of the BOCW Act and associated rules are being followed. He further informed that compensation has been provided to families of workers who lost their lives in accidents, including ₹16,06,675 for the family of Manoj Behera, ₹14,64,800 for Vijay Kumar Behera’s family, and ₹13,86,275 for Shyam Ram’s dependents in Jamui.
Addressing a question from Councilor Bhishma Sahni, the minister shared that the Labor Board provides ₹50,000 to two married daughters or female family members of registered construction workers after marriage. Additionally, ₹4,00,000 is granted to dependents in the event of accidental death during work, while ₹1,00,000 is allocated for deaths caused by disasters, alongside disaster management grants.
The minister also informed the House about a suspension order issued against Labor Enforcement Officer Bagaha-1. The officer was found guilty of withdrawing funds fraudulently under the Mrityu Hit Labh Yojana. An investigation was ordered on November 15, 2024, and swift action was taken after the charges were proven.
On the topic of minimum wages, the minister stated that no complaints have been received since the wages were revised on October 1, 2024. He assured the council that the government remains committed to implementing safety, welfare, and compensation schemes for workers and will take strict action against any irregularities.
