Sub-Office of Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Inaugurated at Balichowki in Mandi.
Chairman Nardev Singh Kanwar Says – Government Committed to Workers’ Welfare; Over 50 Panchayats to Benefit Directly.
Shimla:
Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Nardev Singh Kanwar, today inaugurated the new sub-office of the Board at Balichowki in Mandi district. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Vijay Pal Singh, Member of the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission, as the special guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Kanwar said that the establishment of the sub-office was made possible due to the vision and approval of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He highlighted that around 50 panchayats in the Seraj Assembly constituency are located far from the district headquarters in Mandi, causing considerable difficulty for workers who previously had to spend an entire day traveling to access board-related services. With the new office, more than 20,000 people from these panchayats will now directly benefit.
He further noted that the new office is a gift from the Chief Minister, aimed at ensuring that workers can access information about their rights and welfare schemes closer to their homes. Currently, the Board is running 14 welfare schemes for registered workers across Himachal Pradesh. In the Balichowki development block alone, about 12,000 workers are registered and availing the benefits of these schemes.
Kanwar informed that during the past two years, approximately Rs. 2.4 crore has been disbursed to registered workers in Balichowki block under various welfare schemes. This includes:
- Rs. 89.32 lakh to 371 workers under the Education Assistance Scheme,
- Rs. 89.25 lakh to 175 workers under the Marriage Assistance Scheme,
- Rs. 14.26 lakh to 57 workers under the Maternity Assistance Scheme,
- Rs. 1.32 lakh to three workers under the Medical Assistance Scheme, and
- Rs. 46 lakh provided to families of 20 deceased workers as financial assistance.
He added that across Mandi district, nearly 92,700 workers are registered with the Board. The Chairman urged all eligible workers to register at the earliest so they can receive timely benefits under various welfare programs.
Kanwar also highlighted irregularities from the previous government’s tenure, pointing out that in 2021, nearly 72,000 incorrect registrations were made within just five months, placing a heavy financial burden on the Board. Subsequently, about Rs. 172 crore was disbursed without proper verification. He stated that instructions have been issued to all labour offices to complete physical verification of workers by December 31, and ensure that verified eligible workers receive their benefits within the following 15 days. He further warned that legal action will be taken against individuals involved in fraudulent registrations.
Speaking on the occasion, special guest Vijay Pal Singh commended the Chief Minister’s clear vision for development, emphasizing that the state government is working toward making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant by 2027. He also assured that as the number of registered workers increases, the staff strength at the Balichowki sub-office will be enhanced to improve efficiency and service delivery.
During the event, the first registration at the new sub-office was carried out for Meera Devi, wife of Gopal Singh, resident of village Guran. In a gesture of solidarity, two Board employees whose houses were recently damaged in natural calamities were provided Rs. 35,000 each as relief assistance from their colleagues.
The inauguration program was attended by HPMC Director Joginder Guleria, HRTC Director Baldev Thakur, INTUC National Vice President Mahiman Chander Sharma, former Block Congress Committee President Tek Singh, Gram Panchayat Pradhan Dile Ram, former Zila Parishad member Sant Ram, SDM Devi Ram, BDO, Tehsildar, and other prominent local dignitaries.
