CJ inaugurates legal awareness prog on rights of unorganized workers

Organized by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) in collaboration with the labour department, the objective of the programme is to make the workers in the unorganized sectors aware of their rights and benefits.

The programme was also attended by Judge of the High Court HS Thangkhiew, member secretary of MSLSA W Diengdoh, government officials and others.

Addressing the inaugural session, Chief Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of MSLSA informed that the term ‘unorganized worker’ is defined in Section 2 (m) of The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 which is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to in order to provide social security and welfare for the unorganised workers.

Stating that education plays a vital role in developing the economy of the country, the Chief Justice said that it is an important element in converting the population into national asset.

The Chief Justice further added that if the workers in the unorganised sector are educated and trained they can take advantage of all the benefits available to them.

Later, the programme was also followed by series of sessions wherein resource persons DP Wahlang, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Labour Department/ B Mawlong, Labour Commissioner; KK Srivastava, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner; Shri D. Benjamin, Branch Manager, ESI, Shillong; Hamza Chaudhury, Administrative Officer, Life Insurance Corporation P&GS, Guwahati and NA Khan (MHJS) District & Sessions Judge, Shillong & Chairman, DLSA enlightened the participants on the topics: ‘Building & Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment  and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996’, ‘Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008’, ‘Megha Health Insurance Scheme’; ‘Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952’, ‘Employees Provident Fund Scheme, ‘Insurance Scheme’, ‘Pension Scheme’; ‘Employees State Insurance Act, 1948’, ‘Rights and beneficiaries and other Welfare Schemes’; ‘Pension Scheme’, ‘Insurance Welfare Scheme for workers in the Unorganised Sector’ and ‘Labour Laws’ respectively.

The other highlights of the day’s programme include distribution of scholarships to the children of workers in the unorganized sectors who had registered themselves in The Meghalaya Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.

By Our Reporter