In a bid to provide a protective shield for workers and their children involved in risky and unsafe unorganised sector in the state, Tamil Nadu government today announced a slew of measures at Rs 127.13 crore for their protection, welfare and education for their wards.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced that 50 mobile hospitals on wheels would be purchased at a cost of Rs 19.62 crore, aiming at providing regular medical check up for construction workers at their place of work.
While 15 of these hospitals would be deployed in Chennai and nearby areas, the remaining mobile hospitals would be deployed in districts.
Observing that it was impossible to set up a school for minimum number of children available in every construction site, Jayalalithaa said it was necessary that these children are taken to the nearby schools.
"The government would offer vehicle facility for these children to go to the nearby school from their residence and their way back," she added.
The government, through the Public Works Department, would set up a 50 anganwadi centres, measuring 400 sq ft, for taking care of 20 children in each of them in 50 locations, where construction is going on in a large-scale, she said, adding, these centres would offer supplementary food for children between six months and 36 months.
"Children up to five years would be given hot, mid-day nutritious meals, including cereals, grains, oil and vegetables. While an egg would be provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, boiled cereals would be given on Tuesdays and potatoes on Fridays," she said.
A pre-school would be set up to prepare them to go to regular schools, she said.
"In addition, medical check-ups, vaccination, Vitamin A tablets, medical and education in hygiene would be given to children and their mothers. A child-mother identity card would also be given," the Chief Minister said.
