In a major step towards improving workers’ welfare, the Punjab Labour Department has simplified procedures for availing several welfare schemes, ensuring faster and easier access for eligible beneficiaries.
Punjab Labour Dept Cuts Red Tape, Makes Welfare Schemes Faster and Easier for Workers
Under the Shagun Scheme, the requirement of a tehsildar-issued marriage certificate has been removed. Couples can now submit a certificate from the religious institution where the marriage took place, along with a self-declaration from both families, to receive benefits of ₹51,000.
Maternity benefits have also been simplified. Female construction workers can now claim ₹21,000, and male workers ₹5,000, by providing only the child’s birth certificate. The child’s Aadhaar card is no longer mandatory.
For various schemes, the need for a registered marriage certificate has been done away with entirely. Photographs of the wedding venue and officiants will be accepted as proof, making the process more flexible.
The stipend scheme has also been revised. Children of registered labourers will now be eligible for the stipend from the very first day their parent starts contributing, removing the earlier two-year service requirement.
In a move to widen coverage, MNREGA workers who have completed more than 90 days of work are being encouraged to register with the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board to access scheme benefits.
Additionally, a budget of ₹1 crore has been allocated for awareness campaigns to ensure that more workers are informed about the benefits they are entitled to.
These changes are expected to provide quicker financial aid, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and improve the social security net for thousands of workers across Punjab.
Why This Matters
These reforms simplify the bureaucratic process, easing access to much-needed financial and welfare support for construction and building workers across Punjab. By eliminating cumbersome documentation requirements and expanding eligibility criteria, the government aims to ensure that more workers and their families receive timely assistance without undue hassle.
