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Gujarat CM launches statewide Annapurna Yojna for construction workers

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani here today launched the statewide ‘Shramik Annapurna Yojna’ to serve hot nutritious full meal to the construction workers in the unorganized sector at Rs.10 per meal at the construction sites itself.

Speaking on the occasion, he said this state government’s scheme is not out of any charity, but on humanitarian ground to save the sons of the toil and their family from the pangs of hunger. The government intended to keep the workers at the centre of welfare projects and hence implementing Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s mantra of ‘Har Haath Ko Kaam; Har Kaam Ka Sanman’. The full slogan reads like: “Ayodhya Me Ram, Mahangai Pe Lagam/ Garibo-ka Kaam, Kisano-ko Sahi Daan/ Hatao Bhrashtachari Badnam.”

He said the state government stood for the poor, deprived, oppressed and exploited workers, and not for the affluent industrialists. The construction workers, working day and night, helped the government realize many welfare and mega projects for the development of the country. Only if the workers are happy, can the government march ahead.

Mr. Rupani handed over cheques of Rs.1.60-lakh assistance to three beneficiaries under Nanaji Deshmukh Awas Yojna. It was Nanaji’s idea that food and shelter are equally important.

He listed other government schemes for the welfare of the poor, such as selling generic medicines at affordable price, Rs.2-lakh assistance to treat serious diseases of liver, kidney and brain, providing government jobs to 72,000 youth, jobs for women for their empowerment, distributing cooking gas kit to womenfolk under the Chief Minister’s Ujjwala Yojna.

Labour and Employment Minister Dilipbhai Thakor said the Annapurna Yojna is a pilot project to serve over 25,000 workers engaged in 39 types of trade.

Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said the Annapurna Yojna was a part of the state government’s various welfare schemes for the poor. He said the stricter prohibition act has established peace in the families.

Housing Construction and Labour Welfare Board Chairman Anilbhai Patel said that as per a campaign, the number of workers in the unorganized sectors registered in the state has increased from 47,000 in 2014 to 5.63-lakh now. The Board gave them UWIN cards.

Others present on the occasion included Minister of State for Transport Vallabhbhai Kakadiya, Ahmedabad Mayor Gautam Shah, MLA Rakeshbhai Shah, Arvindbhai Patel, Labour and Employment Principal Secretary Rajiv Kumar Gupta and Collector Avantika Singh

Source: Information Department, Gujarat