Shillong, May 1: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to worker welfare while launching a series of labour-focused initiatives during the state-level celebration of International Workers' Day in the state.
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| Conrad K. Sangma addresses the gathering during the state-level celebration of International Workers' Day in Shillong. |
Addressing workers, labour representatives and officials, Sangma said the government considers workers the backbone of Meghalaya’s development and emphasized that economic growth must directly benefit labourers and their families. He noted that Meghalaya is among the fastest-growing economies in the country and the fastest in the Northeast, maintaining a consistent growth rate of around 10 percent.
The Chief Minister said infrastructure projects worth about ₹29,000 crore currently underway across the state have already created nearly 20,000 jobs for local people. He also highlighted that Meghalaya provides ₹525 per day for unskilled labour, one of the highest wage rates in the country, ensuring that economic growth translates into better earnings for workers.
During the programme, the government launched the E-Labour Connect platform, a digital initiative designed to link workers with employers and enable easier access to welfare schemes and job opportunities.
Several welfare schemes for construction workers were also introduced, including the CM Lite scheme, under which more than 11,700 registered workers will receive financial assistance of ₹5,000 through direct benefit transfer. Sangma said the funds were drawn from labour cess collected from infrastructure projects and are meant exclusively for worker welfare.
Highlighting long-term welfare measures, the Chief Minister said registered workers are eligible for benefits such as educational assistance for children, marriage grants, maternity support, medical aid, pension benefits and insurance coverage for life and accidental deaths.
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Sangma also announced support for schools under a special initiative where selected schools will receive financial assistance for infrastructure development, with funding of up to ₹50 lakh per school. In return, the schools will reserve at least five percent of seats for children of construction workers, who will receive education without tuition fees. The move aims to ensure better educational opportunities for the families of labourers.
The Chief Minister urged workers across the state to register with the labour department so they can access these welfare benefits. He also called on authorities to expand awareness campaigns and skill training programmes, noting that the state may require up to 70,000 construction workers by 2032 as infrastructure development continues to expand.
In addition, Sangma announced that the government had approved revised Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) rates for master roll workers, a decision expected to benefit thousands of employees and improve their earnings.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister said the government’s development agenda aims to ensure that economic progress benefits every section of society and that workers continue to receive recognition for their role in building the state’s economy.
