Chhattisgarh Labour Department’s Bold Commitment
As the world observes International Labour Day on May 1st, the Chhattisgarh government under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is making headlines for its transformative welfare initiatives aimed at improving the lives of workers and their families. With a resounding commitment to breaking generational cycles of labour, the state administration is launching innovative programs that ensure a brighter future for workers’ children.
Welfare That Reaches Every Worker
Over the past year and a quarter, the Labour Department has successfully transferred approximately ₹500 crore directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through schemes operated by three major labour boards:
- Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board
- Chhattisgarh Unorganised Workers Social Security Board
- Chhattisgarh Labour Welfare Board
These programs are designed to support the social and economic advancement of workers and their families.
A New Vision: Education and Dignity for Workers’ Children
Labour Minister Lakhna Lal Dewangan stated, “Under the good governance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, we are ensuring that no labourer’s child remains bound to the hardships of labour.”
To realize this vision, the Labour Department is running several key schemes, including:
- Mukhyamantri Naunihal Scholarship Scheme
- Minimata Mahatari Jatan Yojana
- Mukhyamantri Shramik Tool Kit Scheme
- Mukhyamantri Noni Babu Medhavi Shiksha Protsahan Yojana
- Financial Assistance for Uniforms and School Supplies
- Sports Excellence Scheme for Workers’ Children
- Construction Workers Housing Assistance Scheme
- Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Labour Food Scheme
Empowering Every Hand with Employment and Justice
Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “employment for every hand,” the Labour Department has secured a budget of ₹255.31 crore for the financial year 2025–26. Dewangan reiterated the government’s goal: “Every working hand must receive its rightful wage, and no stomach should go hungry. This is our moral and policy commitment.”
In line with this, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Labour Food Scheme has been rolled out in 13 districts with 31 community kitchens already operational. The plan is to expand it across all districts during the current fiscal year.
Labour Day: Honouring Struggles, Enabling Progress
International Labour Day commemorates the struggle for workers’ rights, originating from the 1886 Haymarket protest in Chicago, where workers demanded an eight-hour workday. In 1889, the Second International declared May 1st as International Workers’ Day. In India, it was first celebrated in Chennai (then Madras) in 1923.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, was instrumental in reducing working hours from 12 to 8 and securing maternity leave for women—historic milestones in India’s labour reforms.
Modern Measures for Unorganised and Organised Workers
Under the Atal Shram Sashaktikaran Yojana, ₹125.10 crore has been allocated in the 2025–26 budget to empower unorganised workers. Additionally, ₹6 crore has been set aside as state assistance for 2.26 lakh registered organised sector workers.
To further support this community, the Labour Department has organized 4,705 mobile registration camps at block levels to simplify the enrolment process for construction and unorganised sector workers.
Investing in Worker Health and Safety
Industrial health and safety have also been prioritised, with ₹6.24 crore allocated this year. The Employees’ State Insurance Services (ESIS), which extends medical benefits to workers and their families, has received ₹64.18 crore from the state government.
Chhattisgarh is charting a new course for labour welfare — one where dignity, education, and health are not privileges but rights. The government’s efforts are sending a strong message: the children of today’s labourers will build futures of opportunity, not burden.
