Dedicated labour help desk to come up in Bhubaneswar soon: Odisha Minister

Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia visited Nayapalli in Bhubaneswar on Saturday and held discussions with workers at the ongoing Shramik Hata. The minister engaged directly with labourers to understand their issues and announced the opening of a dedicated help desk in the locality to support their welfare.

The help desk will provide assistance with the use of the Shramik Sathi mobile application, access to job card facilities, and other related benefits. The minister assured that all pending issues faced by the workers would be resolved within a month.

Minister Promises Quick Solutions and Field-Level Improvements

Speaking on the visit, Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said, “I visited today to check whether our department was doing the work right in the field and assess the situation. Our BJP government wants all the schemes to reach every nook and cranny of villages and villagers to be made aware of the facilities available for them. After reaching here, I wanted to figure out if our department has been able to make the labourers of Odisha aware about the facilities they can avail and are available for them.”

“But unfortunately, 90% of people do not have any knowledge of these. The department authorities are here to assess the situation as well. Tomorrow onwards, camps will be arranged, and we would like to make registrations on the spot. People from different regions who have applied for marriage benefits, death benefits or others will be able to avail them without any issues.”

50 Lakh Labourers Yet to Be Registered, Says Minister

He added, “The feedback I received today was important. It is a much bigger challenge that there are such a large number of people who are unaware and unregistered in the schemes specifically meant for them. There are 50 lakh labourers in Odisha, but these people are not included in that.”

Workers Share Grievances and Seek Shelter and Security

A worker who met the minister said, “I met the Minister and told him about my woes. I informed him that I do not have a labour card, I work here and sleep on the footpath at night. He has assured me that my labour card will be made and I will be able to avail the facilities.”

Another worker said, “The promises are good, but we will be assured after they are implemented and all these labourers who are living on the footpath get a place to live and can avail other benefits.”