Ability Centres: Welfare board set to divert staff’ fund
Karam Prakash
Patiala, June 23
The Punjab Constructing and Different Development Staff’ (BOCW) Welfare Board is as soon as once more planning to divert labour funds for development of 4 talent growth centres within the state.
Earlier, the Authorized Division and the Comptroller and Auditor Common (CAG) of India had red-flagged the transfer. The work at these centres needed to be stopped in December 2021. The authorized opinion was sought by the Labour Welfare Board after The Tribune had raised the problem of misuse of Labour Cess (meant just for welfare of the development staff).
Not true, claims official
We is not going to contact welfare funds. The Central Authorities has sought a report from us, following which we’ve got requested for a standing report from the Punjab Police Housing Company as they’d constructed the talent growth centres. —SS Gurjar, principal secretary, labour division
Nevertheless, the Labour Division has now written to the Punjab Police Housing Company’s managing director and sought a element report to finish the remaining work of talent centres. The company had been given the contract to assemble the talent growth centres.
The CAG report tabled in 2020 within the Vidhan Sabha had found that Rs 56.78 crore of welfares schemes, which violated Part 22 of the BOCC Act 1996, was spent on these growth centres.
When questioned about restarting the work, SS Gurjar, Principal Secretary, Labour Division, mentioned, “We is not going to contact welfare funds. The Central Authorities has sought a report from us, following which we’ve got requested for a standing report from the Punjab Police Housing Company as they’d constructed the talent growth centres.”
Vijay Walia, labour rights activist, mentioned, “As a substitute of recovering Labour Welfare Fund, which was spent on the talent growth centres, the Labour Board is shamelessly planning to spend extra funds. CM Bhagwant Mann ought to order a Vigilance probe.”