*Written instructions issued to Deputy Commissioners of concerned districts for this verification, a three-member committee to be formed to examine workers’ work receipts – Anil Vij*

*Each district-level committee will include a representative from the Labour Department and two other nominated independent gazetted officers – Vij*

*This committee will conduct physical verification in every village/town of the state to examine the criteria adopted for the registration process and work receipt verification – Vij*

*These committees will submit their investigation report within 3 months – Vij*

*“Those who are not even eligible are taking financial benefits, this is nothing short of looting” – Vij*

*The government is likely to suffer a financial loss of hundreds crores of rupees – Vij

*“It seems that fake registrations of people associated with a particular party have been done, they are not entitled and are defrauding the government” – Vij*

*Construction workers receive benefits from various welfare schemes – Vij*

Chandigarh, July 5- Haryana Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that due to irregularities and scams observed in the implementation of various welfare schemes for Building & Other Construction Workers in the state, physical verification/investigation of the work receipts of registered workers will be conducted in every district of the state. For this verification, he has issued written directions to the Deputy Commissioners of respective districts to form a three-member committee to examine the work slips of workers. This committee will include a representative from the Labour Department and two other nominated independent gazetted officers. He said this committee will verify, through physical inspection in every village/town, the criteria followed in the registration process and for work receipt verification. These committees will submit their reports within three months.

Sh. Vij provided this information today in response to a media query regarding the irregularities found in the schemes being run by the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

*“Those who are not even eligible are taking financial benefits, this is nothing short of looting” – Vij*

He said that after receiving reports from some districts, it appears that a scam worth several hundred crores of rupees is taking place, as ineligible individuals are reaping benefits. This is akin to organized looting. When this matter was brought to his notice, a three-member committee was constituted. This committee investigated the verified work receipts for the three months (November 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025) from six districts (Hisar, Kaithal, Jind, Sirsa, Faridabad, and Bhiwani), and found numerous irregularities. He was shocked after reviewing the report, which revealed that this same system was operating across all these districts. Therefore, action has been ordered, and the Advocate General has also been instructed to initiate criminal proceedings against the guilty.

*The government is likely to suffer a financial loss of several hundred crores of rupees – Vij*

Regarding how this scam was detected, Sh. Vij explained that when it was brought to his notice that during the verification of 90-day work receipts of labourers, 11,96,759 receipts were verified between August 2023 and March 2025 — a task that appeared impossible — it became evident that most of these verifications were fake, indicating large-scale corruption. He stated that during this period, in Hisar alone, 1,45,582 work receipts were verified, out of which a single employee verified 84,741 applications in just three months. In fact, this employee verified 2,646 receipts in one day. Similarly, a Faridabad employee verified 2,702 receipts, out of which 1,918 belonged to Sonipat district.

Upon reviewing the report, it was evident that most of these work receipts were created for fake workers, and these “registered” workers were receiving benefits under various departmental schemes — leading to potential financial losses of several hundred crores of rupees for the government.

*“It seems fake registrations have been made for people from a specific party, who are not entitled and are defrauding the government” – Vij*

He added that it appears someone has been running a racket, as it is unrealistic for people from across Haryana to register at a single location. He suspects that fake registrations were made for people linked to a particular party, who are now reaping benefits from government schemes without being eligible — thereby defrauding the government.

*Various welfare schemes benefit construction workers – Vij*

Sh. Vij outlined the various benefits provided to registered construction workers in Haryana including Maternity benefit of Rs. 36,000, Paternity benefit of Rs. 21,000, Educational financial support for workers’ children ranging from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 20,000 annually (from primary to higher education), Merit-based scholarships between Rs. 21,000 and Rs. 51,000 for children scoring 60% to 90% in 10th/12th exams, Reimbursement of full academic expenses for children pursuing professional or technical courses as per actual government expenses, Hostel facility aid up to Rs.1.2 lakh for children of workers in vocational institutes, Coaching assistance for vocational courses from Rs.20,000 to Rs.1 lakh, Incentive of Rs. 50,000 for registered workers’ daughters to purchase an electric scooter and Laptop grant of Rs. 49,000 under the CM Shram Yogi Pratibha Yojana.

Additionally, the other benefits, which are being given to the workers including Rs. 5,000 for bicycle purchase, Rs. 8,000 tool grant, Rs. 4,500 for a sewing machine, Rs. 5,100 under the CM Women Construction Worker Samman Scheme, under the Kanyadaan Yojana Rs.1,01,00 for the marriage of up to three daughters of registered workers, Rs. 50,000 for the self-marriage of a female worker, Full reimbursement of actual second-class train or regular bus fare for pilgrimages or visits to historical sites, Reimbursement of travel expenses for visiting one’s ancestral home, Medical assistance including wage compensation based on minimum wage, Financial assistance up to Rs.1 lakh for treatment of Chronic deseases, Disability support ranging from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh, Disability pension of Rs.3,000/month, Rs. 3,000/month for children with disabilities, Old age pension (after age 60) of Rs.3,500/month, Family pension of Rs. 1,750/month, Widow pension of Rs. 3,000/month, Under the Mukymantri Shramik Samajik Suruksha Yojna Rs. 5,15,000 compensation for accidental death at the workplace, Rs. 1.5 to 3 lakh for disability at the workplace for unregistered workers and Rs. 4 lakh in case of death of an unregistered worker at the workplace.

He also said that Interest-free loan up to Rs. 2 lakh for house purchase/construction and Rs. 1,100 incentive under the Mukyamantri Panjikaran Protsahan Yojna. He clarified that to receive these benefits, workers must register with the labour board. Registration is granted only after verification that the worker has been worked for over 90 days.

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*“If the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is written in Sanskrit and the Quran in Arabic, does that mean people in Maharashtra can’t read them?” – Haryana Energy, Transport & Labour Minister Anil Vij*

*“Will the Thackeray brothers now shut down temples and mosques over the language dispute?” – Anil Vij*

*“Hindi is our national language and a unifying thread across all Indian states” – Vij*

*“Good relations with foreign countries will boost trade and strengthen the economy” – Vij*

Chandigarh, July 5- Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister, Sh. Anil Vij, directly questioned the Thackeray brothers over the language dispute in Maharashtra, asking, “If our Gita is written in Sanskrit and the Quran in Arabic, does that mean people in Maharashtra cannot read the Gita or the Quran?”

While intracting with media persons today, Energy Minister Anil Vij ask a question to the Thackeray brothers, “In light of this language controversy, will they now shut down temples and mosques too?” He criticized their actions, saying that the kind of hooliganism they are engaging in and the violence they are inciting suggests that they might even resort to mischief inside religious places like temples and mosques.

Sh. Vij said that Hindi is our national language and it serves as a unifying thread across all Indian states. He emphasized that Hindi also plays a role in strengthening the federal structure of the country.

*“Good relations with foreign countries will boost trade and strengthen the economy” – Vij*

Responding to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits while allegedly neglecting Manipur, Energy Minister Anil Vij retorted that strong international relations lead to increased trade, stronger bilateral ties and a more robust national economy. As for Manipur, he clarified that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the state, held meetings and took necessary actions as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directions to bring the situation under control.