Delhi Gives ₹8,000 Aid to Construction Workers Hit by Pollution Ban

by The_unmuteenglish

New Delhi, December 4, 2024 – The Delhi government has announced financial aid of ₹8,000 for each registered construction worker impacted by anti-pollution restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

according to reports, the initiative is set to benefit 90,759 workers registered with the Building and Other Construction Workers (BoCW) Welfare Board.

The decision follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which urged the Delhi government to support construction workers affected by GRAP provisions. “This allowance aims to mitigate the hardships faced by workers due to the construction ban imposed under GRAP,” an official statement read.

Eligibility for the aid is limited to workers with active BoCW registrations as of November 25, 2024, per the Supreme Court’s guidelines. Additionally, physical verification of the workers’ claims regarding their completed workdays is mandatory. Upon verification, the funds will be directly credited to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

The construction ban, effective since November 18, is a key measure under GRAP to combat deteriorating air quality in Delhi. The initiative, while critical for addressing pollution, has disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of daily wage earners.

Officials underlined the importance of ensuring transparent disbursal of the allowance. “We are committed to verifying claims thoroughly and providing timely support to all eligible workers,” said a senior Delhi government representative.

The government’s move comes as part of broader efforts to balance environmental priorities with the welfare of workers whose livelihoods have been impacted by pollution control measures.

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