Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SM)

Mangalore, Dec 6:  A seminar on ‘Welfare schemes for labourers’ was organized by Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Wednesday December 5.

Delivering a talk on welfare scheme for labourers, Gurudas M Bhat, labour welfare commissioner, Karnataka Labour Welfare Board said that the schemes of the state and central government that are available for the welfare of the labour are brilliant. But the department needs the assistance of the NGOs, so that they can reach to the people at whom they are actually aiming, he added.

He further said that even after the declaration by the Supreme Court that an employer is not fit to be so if he/she cannot pay the minimum wages to the employers, many people in India pay less than minimum wages to the labourers thus leading them to crimes like stealing for their livelihood.

There are various schemes available for the welfare of the labourers, he informed and added that the Labour Welfare Board offers life-skill development programmes for women and children.

Any organization conducting medical camp for the labourers is entitled to get at least Rs 20,000 as grant from the Board, Bhat said. HIV programmes will also be conducted for the labourers, he added. 

Kumble Narasimha Prabhu, president, KCCI, Srinivas Kamath, vice-president, Mohandas Prabhu, honorary secretary, Ahmed Bava, treasurer and others were present on the occasion.