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Key Points

The Maharashtra government is forming a committee under Labour Minister Akash Fundkar to enhance transparency in worker welfare schemes. Benefits like safety kits are now distributed via online systems with biometric checks to prevent fraud. Vigilance teams have exposed fake registrations across multiple divisions, leading to criminal cases. The move aims to streamline direct benefit transfers while curbing malpractice in welfare implementations.

Key Points: Maharashtra Forms Akash Fundkar Committee for Worker Welfare Transparency

  • Fadnavis announces committee for DBT transparency in worker schemes
  • Online IWBMS system ensures zero human intervention in benefits
  • Safety kits distributed to 4,000 workers via biometric authentication
  • Vigilance teams crack down on fake registrations in 6 divisions
2 min read

Maha govt to form committee to ensure transparency in schemes implemented for workers welfare

Maharashtra govt sets up Labour Minister-led panel to ensure DBT transparency in worker welfare schemes amid bogus registration crackdown.

"Strict and transparent steps will curb bogus worker registrations – Akash Fundkar"

Mumbai, July 14

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced that the government will set up a committee under the chairmanship of Labour Minister Akash Fundkar to ensure transparency in the schemes implemented for the welfare of workers.

He intervened during the discussion on a calling attention motion moved by Congress legislator Sanjay Meshram when the NCP SP legislator Jayant Patil asked the government to further streamline the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system being implemented by the labour department to provide benefits under various schemes to the workers.

He said that the Labour Minister-led committee will be formed soon to make suggestions with regard to DBT and ensure the transparent implementation of various schemes meant for workers.

Fundkar, in his reply, stated that the Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board has been established under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996. From July 2020, the process of registration, renewal, and distribution of benefits is being implemented completely online through the IWBMS system. Benefits like safety kits and household goods kits are being provided directly to construction workers through the DBT method and are distributed only after biometric authentication. Due to this, human intervention is not possible, and transparency has been maintained in the process.

He said that safety kits have been distributed to four thousand workers and household kits to nine thousand workers between January 2025 and June 2025 in Umred, Bhiwapur, and Kuhi talukas of the Umred assembly constituency.

“In some places, cases of registration of workers based on bogus documents by private brokers have been exposed. Vigilance teams have been formed against this, and some criminal cases have been registered in Nagpur, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Pune, and Konkan divisions. Complaints received through various channels are being investigated, and strict action is being taken from time to time. Strict and transparent steps will be taken to curb such bogus registration in the future as well,” he told the state assembly.

Assembly members Vijay Wadettiwar and Praveen Datke also took part in the discussion.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
As someone whose father is a construction worker, I've seen firsthand how middlemen exploit the system. The online DBT is good, but many laborers don't have smartphones or internet access. Government should arrange camps to help with registrations.
R
Rohit P
Why form new committees when existing systems can be strengthened? This just seems like political posturing before elections. Action against brokers is good, but will they target the big fish or just small-time agents?
P
Priya S
The safety kits distribution numbers seem very low for a state like Maharashtra. Only 4000 kits in 6 months? There are lakhs of construction workers who need this protection. Hope the new committee increases the scale of implementation.
V
Vikram M
Good initiative but implementation is key. In my area, workers still have to pay bribes to get their rightful benefits. The vigilance teams should have public helpline numbers displayed at all construction sites. Jai Maharashtra!
N
Nisha Z
The household goods kits are very helpful for migrant workers who live in temporary shelters. But what about healthcare benefits? Many construction workers suffer from respiratory diseases - that should be next priority.

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