Biju Janata Dal announces trade union wing

BHUBANESWAR: With an aim to garner the supports of various trade and employees’ unions in Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday announced a new frontal wing--Biju Shramik Samukhya--led by noted trade union leader Rajendra Prasad Singh.

"The state government has been extending a number of benefits for the labourers and working class. The outfit would work to ensure that the working class people in Odisha avail various benefits of the state government," said Singh in a news conference here at BJD headquarters.

Singh said the outfit would also bring unions of road side vendors, auto and rickshaw divers, aanganwadi,

ASHA workers

and contractual employees’ unions under its purview.

While former minister and MLA Prafulla Samal is appointed as its working president, the trade union wing has eight vice presidents, one general secretary, 11 secretaries and a treasurer. It has an advisory panel comprising five MLAs.

According to sources, the trade wing of the party would move to different districts to form district and block level committees in industrial towns and mineral bearing areas like Rourkela, Chowdwar, Angul, Jharsuguda, Damanjodi, Keonjhar and Sundargarh.

Senior BJD leader Subash Singh, also the chairperson of

Odisha Building

and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board said, "Over 18.60 lakh labourers have so far registered with the board and enjoying various sops announced by the state government. By 2018, we have set a target to register over 25 lakh labourers with our board," Subash added.

The registered construction workers in Odisha are currently receiving sops like monthly pension, scholarship for their children, financial assistance for higher education, daughter’s marriage and assistance up to Rs 3 lakh for treatment of critical diseases like nervous disorders, cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems, cancer and orthopedic disorders. They are also getting assistance for construction of houses under the under the

Nirman Shramik Pucca Ghar Yojana

.

R K Panda, secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress said BJD, as a political party, has all right to constitute its own trade union front. “Timing of floating the trade unions raised doubt about their motive behind the move. Since various employees’ unions are not happy with the state government, the outfit may work to placate them,” Panda said.