An amount of Rs 61.23 crore was received by the Arunachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Worker Welfare Board (APBOCWWB) in the last eight years against one per cent labour cess paid by every department, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said today.
Of the amount, an expenditure of Rs 50.46 crore including Rs 41.54 core was incurred on undertaking welfare measures the labourers and the rest was spent against administrative expenditure, Tuki said reponding to a Calling Attention motion raised in the Assembly by BJP member Tage Taki.
Presenting the year-wise collection of fund against labourer cess, the chief minister informed that an amount of Rs 6.6 crore was received during 2007-08, Rs 1.56 crore in 2008-09, Rs 3.94 crore in 2009-10, Rs 8.44 crore in 2010-11, Rs 9.93 crore in 2011-12, Rs 13.74 crore in 2012-13, Rs 10 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 13.53 crore during 2014-15 respectively.
Raising the motion, Taki asked as to why the one per cent labour cess for APBOCCWWB was being deposited in the state government account.
He alleged that the chief minister withdrew an amount of Rs 3 crore for purchasing laptops and Rs 1.55 for procuring mobile handsets.
Admitting that fund was taken for genuine medical assistance to the labourers under the Chief Minister relief fund as provision with the Board was inadequate, Tuki said the Board decided to provide laptops to the meritorious students of the labour community and accordingly procured laptops worth over Rs 3 crore and further purchased mobile sets worth Rs 1.49 crore for labourers through tender process.
Mobile handsets were distributed to the registered workers with the Board who have completed four years of service, the chief minister added.
Deputy Speaker Tsering Norbu Thongdok who was on the chair lauded the welfare measures for the labourers but asked the Board to take care of their accommodation and hygiene before adjourning the House for the day.
