Registrations with the Other Building and Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (OBCWWB) have increased significantly, with almost every daily wager in Odisha now identifying itself as part of the construction industry.
More than 42.66 lakh people have already registered as construction workers with the OBCWWB, which manages a special fund that provides various welfare measures to registered beneficiaries engaged in building and construction work. The number is increasing.
While these statistics do not accurately reflect the employment scenario in the state, they clearly indicate the desperation of the workers to be covered by any form of social security.
The recently released Economic Survey of Odisha for 2023-2024 shows that at an aggregate level, the state has nearly 351 lakh population in the age group of 15 years and above, of which 214 lakh are part of the labor force. This means that they are already working or looking for work.
“Of the total workforce, almost 96% (205.3 lakh) are employed. Of the total working population (in the age group of 15+), 64% (131.6 lakh) are self-employed and the remaining 36% are regular wage workers (29.6 lakh) or casual workers (44.1 lakh). survey states.
Experts believe that Odisha’s construction sector is not large enough to accommodate such a large workforce. “In a state like Odisha, it is unrealistic to have more than 42 million construction workers. The construction volume does not justify employing so many workers. Casual workers often identify them as construction workers to access benefits,” said Umi Daniel, a migration expert.
Former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo said: “People working in the services or agriculture sectors are grossly underpaid. They immediately fall into a debt trap when there are health problems or social involvement. Because the OBCWWB has a huge fund, they all want to get a piece of it.”
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A 1% tax is collected on all construction activities in the state and deposited into the OBCWWB Fund. This fund is used to provide various welfare measures to registered beneficiaries involved in construction work. Cumulatively, ₹4,571.84 crore has been collected in Odisha, while ₹3,588 crore has been spent. The government now aims to collect ₹1,000 crore every year.
The board provides assistance in case of accidents, death, medical emergencies, marriages, pregnancies, education, purchase of work tools and bicycles and housing assistance under the Nirmana Shramik Pakka Ghar Yojana.
Ironically, 1.34 crore workers from Odisha have registered themselves in the e-shram portal to avail accident benefits. Of these, only 13.25 lakh have identified themselves as construction workers.
“We are aware of the presence of ghost beneficiaries in OBCWWB. Everyone is free to register as a construction worker with the board. Now we have started verifying their identity at the time of disbursement of benefits,” said Vijay Amruta Kulange, state labor commissioner.
Odisha’s unemployment rate of 8.2% for the first quarter of this fiscal is higher compared to the all-India average of 5.8% for the same period. But Odisha’s labor force participation rate (for over 15 year olds) stands at 29.5%, which is more than the all-India average of 25.2% over the same period.
Odisha has 9 lakh individuals identified as unemployed. Replying to a question in the State Assembly on July 30, Union Minister of State for Labor Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said that between 2020 and 2024, as many as 9,90,696 persons had registered on labor exchanges looking for a job. Only 1,176 people got a job during the said period.
While public anger in Odisha has not erupted on the streets of Odisha like in Bihar, Maharashtra and other states, both the previous Naveen Patnaik-led government and the current Mohan Majhi-led government are well aware of the consequences the issue could have for their political political interests. future.
To indicate the importance given to job creation for the government, former CM Patnaik would distribute appointment letters to all the new recruits of the government. In fact, the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar was booked twice in the recent past to distribute appointment letters to newly recruited teachers.
Mr Kanungo said: “The former CM has done his best to convey the message that his government is serious about hiring.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Odisha last May promising 1.5 lakh jobs in the public sector. Governor Raghubar Das, in his inaugural address, said the government is committed to creating over 3.5 million jobs in the automotive, semiconductor and IT/ITES industries. Moreover, the government would ensure recruitment of 1.5 lakh vacant government posts in a fair and transparent manner, with 65,000 positions to be filled within the next two years, he said.
Despite tall claims by the state government, a large chunk of engineering jobs have gone to people from outside the state. Employable youth from Odisha are often blamed for not having the required skills for a job. In the past five years, 36,329 young people received a placement-based training program, but only 10,544 of them were able to find a job.
Published – Oct 3, 2024 06:00 IST
