Jharkhand CM pledges to protect interest of labour force

‘92 % of labour force engaged in unorganised sector deprived of all facilities’

Dignity of labour:Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das presents a safety helmet to a labourer on World Labour Day in Ranchi on Sunday.– Photo: PTI

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Sunday said his government will become the voice of 92 per cent of labour force engaged in unorganised sector in the State and assured it would not compromise on their interest.

Only eight per cent of labour force in the State are engaged in organised sector and they have various trade unions to protect their interest, Mr. Das said at a function to mark International Labour Day at Bistupur here.

“However 92 per cent of labour force are engaged in unorganised sector and are deprived of all facilities and they have no trade union to represent them,” he said.

He said that the government, administration, labour as well as all departments concerned will become their voice and protect their interests and provide training to impart skills.

Mr. Das pitched for simplification of laws to attract more investment.

The government has been framing laws to simplify process but only law can not solve the problem, he said, stating the law should be implemented properly to ensure that benefit must reach the bona fide beneficiaries.

“Our intention was to utilise IT more to check middlemen in all spheres and improve the standard of life of the deprived and oppressed class of the society,” he said.

Mr. Das said labourers are our assets as they have played crucial role in shaping and developing a civilised society.

“My government is committed to honour their contribution in nation building and decided to observe ‘Shramik Adhikar Diwas’ on September 17, coinciding with Vishwakarma Puja as well as the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Modi,” the Chief Minister said.

After becoming Chief Minister of the State, Mr. Das said, he found Rs 150 crore of Labour and Welfare department lying idle in banks.

“I have instructed the officials concerned to utilize the fund for the welfare of labour class and decided to distribute bicycles, sewing machines etc among 59,000 labourers engaged in unorganised sector,” he said.

The government also decided to organise a “Garib Kalayan Mela” every three months, he said adding the target of the government was to eradicate poverty.

Jharcraft, a state government enterprise, would provide blanket-making training to 26,000 self-help groups comprising two lakh members, he said. - PTI