NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is set to improve the registration process for construction workers and enhance the delivery of welfare schemes through a chip-enabled smart card, officials announced on Thursday.
Additionally, a dedicated portal will be established to boost cess collection from builders and construction firms. This fund will support various welfare initiatives for construction workers.
The Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (DBOCWWB) is in the process of selecting an agency to design, implement, and manage an integrated digital platform, officials stated.
This platform will include a cess management portal alongside a network of Karmik Sewa Kendras and Labour Chowks, incorporating chip-based smart cards for beneficiary workers, as per a senior official from the Delhi government.
The smart cards, embedded with secure encrypted data, will be issued to all registered construction workers and will be renewed yearly.
This initiative aims to benefit migrant laborers, particularly those who frequently relocate in search of work, ensuring continuous access to welfare schemes without the need for repeated registration.
The smart card will serve as a single, secure identification for registered workers, linking their registration numbers and benefits to prevent duplication and eligibility issues.
The upcoming cess management portal will digitize the surcharge collection process from builders and track payments for greater transparency and enhanced planning.
Builders and construction firms contribute 1% of their construction work as cess to the Board, which is utilized to fund various welfare programs for registered workers.
According to the DBOCWWB dashboard, there are approximately 2.62 lakh active registered construction workers in Delhi, with the Board having received 19 lakh registration applications.
By limiting multiple registrations and filtering ineligible applications, the system aims to prevent fraud and improve accountability, targeting nearly 30 lakh individuals, especially vulnerable groups such as unregistered and migrant workers.
Officials mentioned that the rollout will occur in phases, focusing on awareness campaigns and collaboration with stakeholders.
Builders and project agencies may also have access to an integrated online payment gateway to enhance collection and compliance.
This will empower the Board’s financial capacity to extend services and welfare programs, which include health assistance, pensions, education support, and insurance for registered workers.
The system is planned to integrate with existing databases and national platforms, such as the e-Shram portal, facilitating better coordination and data sharing among government departments. Aadhaar-based verification will authenticate workers and map their dependents, ensuring precise targeting of benefits.
