Port Blair, Jan 07: The CITU has demanded resumption of extending financial assistance to the eligible member-workers of Welfare Fund of the A & N Islands Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board. In a letter sent to the Lt Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee has brought to his notice the non-functioning of the A & N Islands Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board in these islands for the last nearly one year. The Board was constituted during 2009 for extending various benefits to the workers engaged in the construction related activities. CITU informed the Lt. Governor that the Board had been functioning satisfactorily to some extent, over the years, providing assistance to the member-workers. Chandrachoodan informed the Lt. Governor that during the last nearly one year, the functioning of the said Board has come to a standstill, though the office staff and others are working in the office. He complained that no financial assistance to the eligible workers are are extended during this period and no cogent reason was cited by the Labour Department. He said that the CITU was approached by several workers who are members in the Welfare Fund of the Board to get their due and rightful financial assistance.
The CITU General Secretary informed the Lt. Governor that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has been monitoring the functioning of the Construction Workers Welfare Boards in the country and the funds collected and utilized by it and on every lapse on the part of the authorities in this issue, the Hon’ble Supreme Court was taking such matters very seriously and issuing appropriate directions to the state.
The CITU urged the Lt. Governor to look into this matter personally and direct the authorities concerned to attend the claims and grievances of the members of the Welfare Fund who are working in the construction related activities in these islands. CITU also urged the Lt. Governor to have a review of the functioning of the said Board and its funds in these islands.
