Odisha's CM Launches New Facilities for Workers: A Step Towards Empowerment

New Initiatives for Labour Welfare in Odisha

On Thursday, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated two waiting centers for laborers in Bhubaneswar, emphasizing the government's commitment to worker welfare. This announcement was made during the International Workers' Day-2025 celebrations.

The newly established centers, located in Dumduma and Kalpana areas, are equipped with essential amenities such as drinking water, restrooms, and recreational parks for the labor force.

Majhi revealed plans to expand these facilities to other cities, including Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, and Berhampur.

In addition to the center openings, the Chief Minister honored representatives from various trade unions and provided financial aid under the Construction Workers Welfare Scheme, which covers education, marriage, maternity, and funeral expenses.

Since the current administration took office, over 400,000 construction workers have been registered, with a total assistance of ₹370 crore disbursed.

On this Labour Day, approximately 3,000 new identity cards were issued to eligible construction workers, alongside more than ₹40 crore allocated to beneficiaries.

Majhi highlighted the government's efforts to enhance legal rights and social security for workers across different sectors, noting that the assistance under the Construction Workers Welfare Board has increased from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh for normal deaths and from ₹4 lakh to ₹6 lakh for accidental deaths.

Currently, around 4.7 million construction workers are registered under this scheme, with total assistance exceeding ₹3,951 crore.

The Chief Minister also introduced the 'Odisha Sramik Sathi' mobile application, designed to streamline access to services provided by the Construction Workers Welfare Board, including online registration and assistance applications.

He mentioned that wages for various worker categories have been raised in the past ten months.

Furthermore, a task force has been established to tackle the challenges faced by migrant workers, with a special action plan aimed at supporting Odia migrants.

Majhi stated that initiatives are underway to prioritize local employment in various industries, which is expected to decrease the number of migrant laborers from Odisha.

Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia emphasized the crucial role of workers in national development, acknowledging their hard work as the foundation of progress.