By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 1, 2018: The Odisha government has spent Rs 814 crore for the benefit of the construction workers.

“Welfare of the labour is the top priority of the government and Nirman Shramika Kalyan Yojana is the flagship scheme of the government. Under the scheme, 17 different types of welfare benefits have been given to 11.52 lakh beneficiaries under Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said at an event to mark the International Labour Day.

Patnaik claimed that his government upholds the dignity of labour and salutes the working class who are creating new Odisha by their sweat and hard work.

The CM also launched several initiatives for the benefits of the labour force, including Shramika Sarathi, Shuna Shramika and Online Benefit Module for BOC Workers.

Referring to seasonal migration from western and southern Odisha, Patnaik said, the government has taken it very seriously. Various developmental departments of the government are continuing to mitigate the distress migration, he added.

The CM said that a pilot project is going on in Bolangir and Nuapada districts in collaboration with the Tata Trust in convergence with other line departments.

About 9,000 children of migrant workers in such districts were retained in seasonal hostels to ensure their education as their parents migrated, he added.