Construction workers to get free train passes in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Government has introduced a scheme under which free monthly railway season passes will be provided to construction labourers in the unorganised sector.

Mukhyamantri Nirman Mazdoor Izzat scheme was launched today, keeping in view the challenges faced by labourers, who have to travel all the way from their villages to cities for jobs, Chief Minister Raman Singh said.

Under it, `Labourer Izzat Card' would be provided to such workers, allowing them free travel in trains to reach construction sites.

Singh launched the scheme at a function held at Rajnandgaon, around 80km from here, where free monthly season railway passes were distributed to 523 labourers.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said honouring the hard work of labourers and helping them to live a respectable life is the moral and social duty of any responsible Government.

The travel card will take care of the daily expenses incurred by labourers on railway tickets to reach their job sites, he said.

"Using this monthly railway pass, labourers will be able to travel up to 150km a day free of cost. The scheme will provide a great relief to labourers, especially those who travel frequently from Rajnandgaon to Bhatapara and Godia in Maharashtra."

The Chief Minister also talked about various other welfare schemes launched by the State's BJP Government.