Labour schemes for NE reviewed

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 5

Regional conference of state labour and employment ministers and secretaries of the Northeast states was held today at Imperial Hall, Classic Grande, Chingmeirong. It was organised by the ministry of labour and employment and is the first time ever held in the NE region itself.

Santosh Kumar Gangwar, minister of state labour and employment (independent charge) chaired the function and was inaugurated by chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh as chief guest.

The review meeting discussed the implementation and enhancement of schemes for child labour, plantation workers, Employees State Insurance Corporation workers, social security schemes, building and other construction workers’ cess fund among others.

Biren said the state government has taken up various programmes for employment generation in both domestic and global labour markets through job-oriented skill development training programmes in health, IT, agriculture, sericulture, technical education and others are in place to formulate prospective plans for skill development in the state.

He further a state mission on employment, housing and drinking water for each household by 2022 was launched by the state government. “There is a target to generate 7.50 lakh employment by 2022 at the rate of 1,50,000 employment every year starting from this year and not necessarily white collar jobs,” he added.

Santosh Kumar, in his speech, said that he chose to have his first ever review meeting in North Eastern states after taking charge last year to strengthen ties between the Centre and the states.

He said mainstreaming the NE region is the priority of the Centre and that they are on the plan to scrutinise and make better plans for the development of the region.

He said that he would extend every possible help to the region and requested the states to utilise the funds for the available schemes for the welfare of labourers.

Secretary of labour and employment of central government, M. Sathiyavathy said that overall performance of the NE region is not up to the mark and urged the regional officials to fair better in the next review meeting.

The function was also attended by state’s labour minister, Th. Radheshyam, minister for labour and employment, Assam, Pallab Lochan Das, parliamentary secretary, labour and employment, Nagaland, Neiphrezo Keditsu, financial advisor and additional secretary, ministry of labour and employment Arun Goel and officials from other North East states.