SRINAGAR, July 25, 2025 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired the 22nd meeting of the J&K Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (JKBOCWWB) at the Civil Secretariat to review ongoing welfare initiatives and approve key policy measures for the benefit of construction workers and their families.
Lauding the Board’s efforts in extending welfare coverage to over 2.85 lakh active workers, the Chief Minister stressed on transparent, timely, and inclusive delivery of benefits. He directed officials to simplify application procedures, expand outreach, and adopt a broader definition of “construction worker” to include more unorganized labourers.
“Our focus must be on forward-looking reforms that ensure no deserving worker is left out,” Omar said, urging the Board to align with national best practices and boost financial security mechanisms.
The meeting saw attendance from Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary, senior administrative secretaries, representatives of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bhartiya Dastkar Union, and officials from concerned departments.
Labour & Employment Secretary Kumar Rajiv Ranjan presented the Board’s progress, noting key reforms under the BOCW Act, 1996 including:
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Ex-gratia relief for accidental deaths/disabilities
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Educational aid and ₹50,000 scholarships for meritorious students
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Maternity, marriage, chronic illness, and funeral assistance
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Full Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and Aadhaar-based registration
The Board currently holds a corpus of ₹1082.58 crore in savings and fixed deposits from cess collections.
Key Decisions Approved:
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₹17.24 crore transfer to Ladakh UT as per SO 339
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Smart cards for all registered workers (₹10 crore budget)
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₹60 crore for PPE kits and tools, prioritizing rural workers
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₹10 crore for short-term skill training of 10,000 workers under NSDC norms
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Revised scholarship slabs based on district-wise merit (min 90% eligibility)
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Staff regularization process to be finalized within six months
The Board also approved budget proposals for FY 2024–25 and 2025–26, audited accounts for FY 2022–23 and 2023–24, and integration of its schemes with broader social security and financial inclusion programs.
In his closing remarks, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that welfare schemes reach every eligible worker and emphasized the need for robust monitoring and inclusive policy development.
