J&K reaches out to migrant workers; gives `1k cash each

As a large number of people particularly daily-wage labourers and those belonging to other weaker sections of the society have been rendered jobless due to the Covid-19 driven virtual lockdown which entered its twelfth day in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, the government has announced that each such registered out of work person would be given `1,000 immediately, mainly to buy essential commodities.

An official spokesman in winter capital Jammu said that measures to help the migratory labourers from various parts of the country stranded in J&K are also underway. The government on Monday notified helpline numbers for these labourers and asked them to seek assistance and help by contacting the concerned officials in twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu on these.

The nominated officers Zameer Ahmad and Sanjay Kumar have been asked to liaise with the concerned authorities of the states and Union Territories for extending help to stranded migrant labourers.

The spokesman said that as far on the dole workers registered with the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board the government has sanctioned `17.65 crore to provide them immediate financial assistance. “Each such out of worker will get `1,000. The amount will reach the beneficiary through direct benefit transfer mode for purchase of essential commodities out of the cess fund available with the board”, the spokesman said.

The financial assistance besides education help for these workers was actually announced by the Central government last week and J&K’s labour department started disbursed the sanctioned amount among them.