CHANDIGARH : Punjab Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced a significant transformation in the welfare of construction workers, highlighting the remarkable improvements achieved under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government. The government has streamlined processes, cutting application processing time for construction worker benefits from 165 days to just 62 days, resulting in a massive increase in welfare disbursements.
Since April 1, 2025, a total of 45,578 construction workers have received financial assistance amounting to Rs. 146.77 crore, nearly ten times the Rs. 14.73 crore provided to 4,977 workers under the previous administration in the last financial year. This remarkable turnaround reflects the Mann Government’s commitment to ensuring timely support and improving the lives of construction workers across Punjab.
Streamlined Welfare Processes for Construction Workers
While addressing a query in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasized that the Mann Government has actively reformed the functioning of the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board. The streamlined procedures ensure that registered construction workers receive timely financial assistance, eliminating bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies that plagued previous administrations.
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The Minister further added that the government is committed to reducing the processing time even further, targeting a 45-day limit for approval and disbursement of construction worker benefits in the near future. “Our reforms demonstrate the clear difference in governance and working style between the current administration and previous governments,” Sond remarked.
Impact on Workers’ Welfare and Livelihoods
The accelerated disbursement of construction worker benefits has had a profound impact on livelihoods, providing much-needed financial stability to thousands of workers and their families. The Mann Government’s initiatives have also strengthened public trust in welfare programs, ensuring that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries efficiently and transparently.
Minister Sond emphasized that this milestone is just the beginning, with further measures being planned to expand the reach and efficiency of construction worker welfare schemes in Punjab.