Aid for taking migrant workers’ remains home

CHENNAI: The state would facilitate transportation of mortal remains of the migrant workers, who died in accidents in construction sites and other industries, to their native village. The Welfare Board would allocate a maximum of Rs 1 lakh to transport the mortal remains of a labourer.

Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development CV Ganesan told the state Assembly during the demand for grants for his department that the Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board would extend financial assistance to transport mortal remains of the migrant workers, who died in accidents at their working sites, to their native place.

“If migrant labourers meet with an accident at a worksite and died, the welfare board will extend financial assistance to transport their mortal remains after the post-mortem. It will be ferried in a government hearse van, train or even in flight to their native place,” the Minister said and noted that a maximum of Rs 1 lakh would be allocated for the same for a single case.

The Collector of the respective district would coordinate the arrangements and financial assistance for carrying out the process would be done by the Collector, the Minister added.

‘Difficult to implement without proper registration’

“Without proper registration of the migrant workers, it will be difficult to implement such welfare schemes. The fund will remain unutilised. The government should engage stakeholders to implement such programmes,” said Arul of the Migrant Workers’ Protection Movement.