- Chhagan Lonhare, Deputy Director Public Relations
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, the Chhattisgarh government is implementing numerous schemes for the betterment of workers and their families. Through these schemes, financial assistance is continuously provided to improve the social and economic status of workers. These schemes are being successfully implemented through the three divisions of the Labor Department: Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Board, Chhattisgarh Unorganized Workers State Social Security Board, and Chhattisgarh Labor Welfare Board. As a result, in the past two years and four months, approximately ₹800 crore has been transferred to workers’ accounts through various schemes via DBT. This year, under the Atal Utkrisht Shiksha Yojana, 200 children of workers will be enrolled in the state’s elite private schools.
Labor Day is celebrated worldwide. The primary purpose of celebrating International Labor Day, or Workers’ Day, on May 1st is to pledge workers’ rights, social justice, and better working conditions. It is also celebrated to commemorate the contributions of workers and honor their struggles. It commemorates the violence that occurred during a workers’ protest in Haymarket Square, Chicago, in 1886, where many workers demanded an eight-hour workday. In 1889, the Second International declared May 1st as International Labor Day. The purpose of celebrating this day is to ensure workers’ rights, promote social justice, and advocate for better working conditions. In India, Labor Day began in Chennai (Madras) in 1923. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Chairman of the Indian Constituent Assembly, reduced the working hours from 12 hours to eight hours. He also provided maternity leave to women.
Chief Minister Shri Sai believes that the Labor Department is a vitally important department, capable of bringing significant positive change to the lives of workers. He directed officials to ensure effective implementation of schemes, as well as conduct surprise inspections of industrial units using technology, to ensure the protection of workers’ rights. These efforts by the state government are giving new impetus to the social and economic empowerment of workers in Chhattisgarh.
State Labor Minister Shri Lakhanlal Dewangan stated that under the Vishnudev government’s good governance, no longer will a laborer’s child remain a laborer. The Labor Department is implementing numerous welfare schemes for workers. These include the Chief Minister’s Nounihal Scholarship Scheme, the Minimata Mahatari Jatan Scheme, the Chief Minister’s Labor Tool Kit Scheme, the Chief Minister’s Noni Babu Meritorious Education Promotion Scheme, the Free Uniform and Book Copy Assistance Scheme for Children of Construction Workers, the Excellent Sports Promotion Scheme for Children of Construction Workers, the Chief Minister’s Construction Labor Housing Assistance Scheme, and the Martyr Veer Narayan Singh Labor Food Scheme. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisions that every hand should have work. The State’s Commerce, Industry, and Labor Departments are making every effort to this end. A provision of ₹256 crore has been made for the Labor Department in the current fiscal year 2026-27.
Labor Minister Shri Lakhanlal Dewangan said that the Vishnu Dev government’s vision is that every hand should have work, they should be paid fairly, and every stomach should have food. This is our government’s ideal policy. The state government is committed to implementing this policy. Under the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Labor Food Scheme, 38 food centers operate in various districts of the state. Under this scheme, workers are provided with hot meals, lentils, rice, vegetables, and pickles for ₹5. This scheme is being expanded to all districts in the current financial year 2026-27. The cost of labor housing has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.50 lakh per housing unit. Similarly, the cost of e-rickshaws will also be increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.50 lakh.
It is noteworthy that more than 33 lakh 14 thousand workers have been registered under the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board since September 5, 2008. The Board is running 26 schemes and 60 labor categories have been notified. Rs 315 crore was received from the one percent cess in the year 2025-26, while a total of Rs 2,808 crore cess has been collected since the Board’s formation. By March 2026, Rs 2,558 crore has been spent on various schemes.
A budget provision of ₹10 crore has been made for industrial health and safety in the current financial year. The primary responsibility of the Employees’ State Insurance Services, under the Labor Department, is to provide medical benefits to workers and their family members. The state government has allocated ₹76.38 crore for the Employees’ State Insurance Services.