PORVORIM
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte has accused the Commissioner of Labour and Employment of directing a number of workers to refund the amount of Rs 6,000 received by them under Labour Relief Scheme within 30 days.
Addressing a news conference, Khaunte said the Goa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under their Labour Relief scheme ‘Goa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Assistance Scheme Covid 19’ had deposited Rs 6,000 to aid those workers in distress during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Persons who have completed 90 days as labourers had registered themselves under Goa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board by self certification. Some of these labourers did not even apply for assistance nor had filled forms for assistance of Rs 6,000, but they received this amount directly into their accounts.”
“These workers have already utilised this amount. Under such circumstance, how are they to return this amount of Rs 6,000,” asked Khaunte.
“The Commissioner of Labour and Employment has issued notices to workers directing them to refund the Rs 6,000 received by them under Labour Relief Scheme within 30 days, failing which appropriate legal proceedings, both legal and civil, will be initiated against them to recover the amount.”
Khaunte said the government should hold the commissioner and officers concerned responsible for transferring the amount to the account of the workers directly without identifying the legal beneficiaries.
“This is a failure of the government. Some workers who received the amount do not have jobs and don’t have money to celebrate Ganesh festivals. Instead of understanding their plight, the State government is directing them to refund this amount, failing which they have been threatened with legal action.”
“The government should, instead, collect the Rs 6,000 from BJP karyakartas who have made a false declaration and claimed benefits under the scheme and not from the poor workers,” said Khaunte.
