Bhubaneswar: Over 9.65 lakh construction workers in the state have been provided assistance worth to the tune of Rs721.83 crore by the Odisha Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board(WBOCWWB) during the last three years.

This was revealed by the chief minister,Naveen Patnaik, on the occasion of observation of Construction Workers Service Week, commenced from Tuesday. Inaugurating the Week observation, Patnaik said that the state government has launched new schemes for construction workers like Nirman Sramika Pucca Ghar Yojana,   Pension Yojana, Ashrya (Rented Accomodation), financial assistance for wards of workers to pursue studies in government ITIs and diploma courses.

The inaugural ceremony, presided over by Board chairman Subash Singh, was graced by labour minister Sushant Singh, tourism and culture minister Ashok Panda, labour department principal secretary Anu Garg, and labour commissioner Sachin Ramchandra Yadav.  Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha MP Dr. Prasanna Patsani, mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and local legislators Bijaya Kumar Mohanty and  Priyadarshi Mishra were also present.