Latest news with #BOCW)Act
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Punjab govt struggles to translate central laws into Punjabi
1 2 3 Patiala: The Punjab govt's prolonged struggle to translate key central laws into Punjabi has come under fresh scrutiny, with activists and rural workers voicing frustration over years of delay. Despite repeated demands and official commitments, critical legislation such as the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) remain untranslated, creating barriers to legal clarity and access for Punjabi-speaking citizens. The issue gained renewed attention after a group of rural labourers from Nabha encountered confusion over the interpretation of the English word "may" in the MGNREGA Act during a dispute with the local administration. Their request for a Punjabi version of the Act was denied, prompting them to file a Right to Information (RTI) application. With no response, the matter is now scheduled for hearing before the Punjab State Information Commission on June 25. This is not the first time the commission has intervened on such issues. Activist Vijay Walia, who was advocating for the Punjabi translation of the BOCW Act since 2022, revealed that multiple hearings were held over the years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "Every time, the govt claims the Act is being translated by the Language Department and universities, but nothing concrete has emerged," Walia said. At one point, the language department even issued a written statement citing staff shortages as the reason for the delay. In 2023, the Estimates Committee of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha pressed for an expedited translation, prompting the labour department to seek assistance from Punjabi University. However, the translation is yet to be completed. In a response submitted in March 2024, the BOCW Welfare Board — chaired by the chief minister — told the Commission that once the translation is ready, it will be reviewed by the Vidhan Sabha's Legal Cell and then presented to the Cabinet for approval before being officially notified in Punjabi. Despite these assurances, there was no official notification to date. Meanwhile, the Democratic MGNREGA Front has also entered the fray and is set to begin its own hearings on the lack of a Punjabi translation of the MGNREGA Act starting June. For many, this delay underscores a broader systemic neglect toward Punjabi as an administrative and legal language in Punjab itself. With legal interpretations hanging in the balance, stakeholders are now hoping that pressure from civil society and the Information Commission will push the govt toward swift action. MSID: 121440669 413 |
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
EPF scheme is most suited for construction workers, says Provident Fund Commissioner
The scheme under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952 (EPF) is more beneficial for construction workers than the scheme under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act enacted by the State government, according to a recent order passed by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Kochi. The order has been passed in response to a recent directive of the Kerala High Court to look into whether the scheme under the BOCW Act is more beneficial than the EPF scheme for construction workers and pass appropriate orders in this regard. In his order, Uttam Prakash, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I noted that the EPF, through its contributory, account-linked, and tech-enabled framework, offers a far more resilient, scalable, and sustainable approach to worker's protection and interests. Lifetime security The early enrolment advantage, portability across employers and States, digitally verifiable contributions, and proportionate, need-responsive benefits mark it out as a system designed not just for immediate aid but for lifetime security and beyond. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) pension and insurance arms, coupled with its structured governance and unified enforcement mechanisms, further strengthen its capacity to adapt to the evolving nature of employment, including transitions from informal to formal sectors. The order added that based on the principles of adaptability, transparency and empowerment, the EPFO framework stands at a firmer ground that can protect the dignity of labour and ensure a retirement with dignity. Short-term The order said that while the BOCW admirably targets the immediate welfare needs of one of the most vulnerable segments of India's workforce, it is increasingly evident that its benefits, though essential, are short-term, uniform, and administratively constrained. Despite its noble intent, the lack of transparency, inconsistent disbursal, and procedural rigidity diminishes its effectiveness, especially in dynamic labour markets like Kerala. The commissioner ordered that Veegaland Developers Private Limited, which has been covered by the EPF scheme since 2007, to continue with the EPF scheme, instead of the BOCW.
