A Study on Welfare Schemes for Migrant Construction Workers in Karnataka

The rural economy has undergone drastic change. The irregular rain, fragmented land holding and profit less agricultural sector has forced the rural youths to migrate towards urban centres in search of better employment opportunities. The construction sector mostly informal and unorganized is the major sector that is attracting majority of migrant population. Most of the migrant workers do not register themselves under any organization and remain unorganized. Though there are many welfare schemes and welfare fund, the migrant labourers are unaware of the schemes available for their welfare. This paper tries to make an attempt towards the welfare schemes available in their favour. The awareness regarding the same among migrant workers and a brief study on the unutilized welfare fund. 107 labourers working in various construction sites in Bangalore were considered for the study.


Introduction
Migration occupies an important place and complex demographic phenomenon. Since ancient times there are traces of migration from one place to another either for trade, employment, marriage or for many other reasons. The migration of labourers demands greater attention because the people come from various diverse and complex socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The construction sector has been the second largest sector providing employment after agriculture. The migrants are mainly attracted towards construction sector because this sector provides employment for both skilled and unskilled individuals. The Government and many other unions have been working in favour of the welfare of these workers. But unfortunately many workers who come to cities are not aware of the labour department and do not enroll themselves and remain unorganized. Construction sector is informal in nature and employs vast majority of the workforce. The better quality of life for these unorganized employees will surely improve the nation"s quality of life . But unfortunately this is not being possible because the workers employed in informal sector are mostly unorganized and so denied of benefits that formal organized workers enjoy. [1][2][3][4] The 2015-16 Economic Survey has come out with the major issue and says that it is a challenge to provide "good jobs" that guarantees job protection and also expresses anxiety that there is a need for creating "decent jobs" for the masses. The workers in formal sector are the tax payers and are linked to benefits such as leave facility, social protection, compensation, health facility, insurance and pension schemes. [5][6] In India, the formal sector provides jobs but it stands only to about 10% of total employment, the remaining jobs are in the informal sector. The 68th NSSO report brings out the truth that since 2011-12 the share of formal sector jobs have increased but it could not match the growth of informal sector. The main problem with informal sector is that, though nearly 90-92% of individuals work here , the labourers working are not covered under social safety network . Many problems like job insecurity, lack of compensation, denial of health facility, failure to provide leave facility , bad social and working condition etc are common . Further safe and conducive housing facility is rarely found, lack of creche facility are other problems that revolve around informal unorganized workers. The problem aggravates in case of migrant workers.
This study will be restricted only for the welfare schemes made available to construction workers, the awareness about these facilities among the selected sample, the benefits availed by workers and the unutilized welfare fund.

Statement of the Problem
The construction sector inspite being a largest sector providing employment opportunities lacks the implementation of laws in wage distribution, conducive work environment, conveyances etc., The medical and health facilities are not provided and most of the children of the migrant workers are denied of primary education. Nearly 90% of the workers are unorganized and do not have the idea of laws that exist in favour of them since most of them are illiterates and uneducated. Many of them don"t get registered under any welfare board that is made available for them. The welfare fund that is collected from the builders and contractors as cess which is not fully utilized.

Present Study: -
Many of the construction workers are not registered under any welfare boards and so are not the beneficiaries of the welfare fund extended towards protection of labourers. The secondary data collected from Karnataka Building And Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and welfare fund reveals that welfare board and utilization of funds in construction sector would surely help them . But unfortunately most of them don"t get registered and the welfare fund is also not efficiently utilized .
Further , the empirical study on these factors are rarely made.
Scope of the study:-The present study confines itself to the registration of migrant workers under Karnataka construction workers welfare board and the benefits extended under the board towards these workers. The Welfare Fund and its utilization are also considered. The migrant construction workers only within Bangalore city are selected for the study.
Objectives:-• To know number of sample respondents registered under welfare board. • To examine construction workers awareness regarding the welfare schemes available for construction workers.
• To analyse the collection and utilization of welfare fund towards construction workers.
• To provide few suggestions for the better utilization of the fund.

Methodology:-
The survey sample method was used to collect data pertaining to construction labourers in Bangalore. The workers working in construction of apartments, individual houses were considered for survey. Samples of 107 respondents were selected for the study. Secondary data were collected from various published books, articles, journals, central and state government reports, NSSO reports and mainly website report of Karnataka State construction welfare board and newspaper.

Awareness among Construction Workers
Many workers move from their native places to cities in search of jobs.The infrastructural developments in urban areas attracts these migrants form within and outside state. Irrespective of whether the worker is skilled or unskilled , the construction sector provides them job. The present study concentrates on awareness of existence os welfare board and schemes in their favour. The main objective of the study was to know the extent of Awareness about these welfare schemes among construction workers. The structured questionnaire was prepared to know the facts .

Fig.1. Graphical Representation of Awareness among Sample Respondents
In order to know the various benefits availed by few respondents , questionnaire consisting of opinion regarding union , benefits claimed , reasons for now availing benefits was asked and the opinion of the selected sample respondents was recorded. Out of 25 respondents who were aware of the union and had registered themselves. The responses were collected to make a satisfaction survey of the functioning of Welfare Board  idle under the welfare fund. The construction workers working under huge builders are suffering a vary dangerous and insecure working conditions. Many a times the compensation made during the accidents for these workers are made by government and the welfare board doesn"t come forward and use the welfare fund. This has led to non utilization of crores of rupees. There are all chances that in future the fund will be taken over by the government for utilizing it for causes. Table: 3 -The Table below  Year

Labourers
The table reveals that the cess has been collected regularly from the builders and the accumulated fund has seen a drastic rise. The labourers getting registered under the welfare board is increasing except for two years. The number of migrants in construction sector is enormous since this is the sector where the workers get jobs easily inspite of being skilled or unskilled . Many workers move out of there native place either for short or long period. Those who come to cities for short period do not register themselves under any union or welfare boards and so suffer non compensation for any accidents they encounter and lack medical benefits even during their short stay.
Source : KBCWWB as given in Prajavani Newspaper

Fig.3.Graphical Representation of the details of Workers Welfare Fund Collected from 2006-07 to 2018-19
Source : KBCWWB as given in Prajavani Newspaper

Fig.4.Graphical Representation of the details of number of workers registered under welfare board in Karnataka
The fund collected is Rs.1204.80 as on 2018-19, but the utilization of funds shows a very pitiable situation. The number of registered workers is 2,97,815 by 2018-19 and if the fund was used efficiently, the entire amount should have supported the construction workers in every aspect  The Tables and Graphs reveal the fact that the funds collected as cess is not being fully utilized though the number of registered beneficiaries is increasing every year. The government is trying its level best to create awareness among the construction workers to be a part of union or get membership under the welfare board. But, the unique problems of these workers like illiteracy, migrant nature; temporary stay at a particular place etc has been avoiding them to register themselves.

Conclusion
The Supreme Court has taken action to bring all construction workers under safety net but for many reasons the objective is not satisfactorily met. The development index of the country also depends on the Physical Quality of Life Index and this has to be considered seriously and the decent life of informal sector workers should be given utmost priority.