Special registration camp for migrant workers held in Kohima

KOHIMA — Special registration camp under Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (NBOCWWB) for inter-state migrant workers as well as health screening camp was held at the Smart City Hotel construction site in Kohima on Tuesday.

On the first day of the two-day special camp, a total of 320 migrant workers turn up to avail the benefits. The arrangement of the camp for migrant workers included bank account opening, eShram registration, NBOCW registration and medical camp.

A total of 223 workers availed health screening, while 62 opened their bank account, 58 and 32 registered on NBOCW welfare board and e-shram respectively. The low turn-out registration was due to the internet connectivity issue, it was learnt.

Unveiling the camp, the deputy commissioner of Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant, has termed the construction workers as the actual nation builders. He said the nation-building rests on them as the country is now giving maximum focus on infrastructure and development. 

As many of them are not aware of the benefits meant for them, he urged them to be informed and be aware about those benefits and not just getting themselves registered. He further told them to bring in their friends who are yet to avail those benefits.

He advised them keep their mobile number activated and to be sincere in their work.

Vikeheto Naki, assistant labour commissioner and deputy chief executive officer of NBOCWWB, informed that as per the National Statistical Office (NSO) during 2017-18, Nagaland had around 6.3 lakh workers engaged in the unorganised sectors.

“Having understood that migrant workers are the most vulnerable section of society, the Labour Department plans to prioritise migrant workers in the current year 2024 and accordingly, this special camp has been organised,” he said.

He added that the two day special camp was to register workers under eShram and NBOCWWB and thereby share information with various stakeholders for delivery of various social security and welfare schemes being administered by them.

As on March 31, 2024, a total of 2887 migrant workers were registered under eShram from Nagaland, which constitute only 1.08% of migrant workers present in the state. He urged all migrant workers in the state to get registered under eShram and come under the folder of the Labour department

He also informed the Labour department, in collaboration with the Food and Civil Supply department, had already issued 45 ration cards to the migrant workers registered under eShram from the state.

Representative from the office of chief medical officer (CMO), Kohima, also spoke about the vector-borne diseases and urged the workers to take preventive measures by keeping themselves and surroundings clean. The medical department conducted free medical camp and distributed free mosquito nets.