Study on building and other construction workers welfare schemes/amenities in Karnataka

Building and Construction industry is recognised as the unorganised sector with vast labour intensity and economic activity after agriculture in India. This industry generates demand for both skilled and semi-skilled labour force. The workers face inherent risk to life/vital body parts due to occupational hazards. However, these labourers work is temporary and casual natured with lack of basic amenities and inadequate welfare facilities. With an objective of providing adequate working conditions and welfare amenities, the Government of India enacted the legislation namely, Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of employment and conditions of services) Act, 1996. As per the legislation, the Karnataka State Government has framed Rules, constituted State Welfare Board and planned the welfare scheme in 2006.

The study has been aimed to ascertain the awareness of the welfare scheme, extent of implementation and to identify areas of hurdles in implementation. Firstly, literature review has been carried out using books, journals, magazines and internet. Secondly, opinion survey has been conducted for two construction core regions at Bangalore and Tumkur through validated questionnaire. Thirdly, 189 respondent's data has been collated and analysed using statistical packages to ascertain the awareness and hurdles of the Scheme. Finally, inferences from the analysis have been validated using Chi-Square test and comparative study.

The outcome of the study shows that 92.5% out of 14 lakh workers have been deprived of the benefits of the Welfare Scheme promoted by the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, Karnataka. Among the 189 respondents to the survey, only 24% have been aware of the welfare scheme. The major hurdles in extending the Scheme in the form of Legislation non-compliances have been recommended.