GANDERBAL, JULY 31: A comprehensive review meeting on the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Scheme and the Labour Codes was held today at the Conference Hall, Mini Secretariat, Ganderbal, under the chairmanship of Charandeep Singh, Labour Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir.
The meeting was co-chaired by Fahim Bihaqqi, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal.
The meeting witnessed the participation of senior officers from various line departments, including the District Programme Officer, Poshan/ICDS; General Manager, District Industries Centre (DIC); Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD); Executive Engineers of R&B, JPDCL, Jal Shakti (PHE), PMGSY, Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) and Rural Engineering Wing (REW); Chief Education Officer; Officer Commanding, Beacon; Chief Agriculture Officer; Chief Horticulture Officer; Assistant Director, Fisheries; Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA); Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ganderbal; Block Development Officers; Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council Ganderbal; Assistant Director, Handlooms/Handicrafts; Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO); In-charge Estates, Central University of Kashmir; General Manager, APCO, Sonamarg Tunnel Project; General Manager, Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), Zojila Tunnel Project; and General Manager, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Ring Road Project, besides other officers and officials.
The meeting was convened to review the progress achieved under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Scheme, assess the preparedness of various departments for the implementation of the Labour Codes, and strengthen inter-departmental coordination for extending social security benefits to workers engaged across different sectors.
While addressing the participants, the Labour Commissioner highlighted the transformative nature of the Labour Codes, describing them as a significant reform aimed at simplifying labour laws, promoting ease of compliance, ensuring better industrial relations, strengthening occupational safety, and expanding social security coverage for workers. He elaborated on the key provisions of the Codes and stressed the importance of their effective implementation through coordinated efforts of all stakeholder departments.
The Labour Commissioner emphasized that every department executing developmental works or engaging contractual, casual, outsourced, or unorganised workers has a vital responsibility in ensuring that eligible workers are identified, sensitized, and facilitated for enrolment under the PM-SYM Scheme and other labour welfare initiatives. He urged all Heads of Departments and field functionaries to work in close coordination with the Labour Department to maximize registration of eligible beneficiaries and ensure that the intended benefits of social security schemes reach the grassroots level.
He further observed that departments such as Rural Development, Public Works, Jal Shakti, PMGSY, Irrigation & Flood Control, Power Development, Municipal Council, Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Education, Transport, Handicrafts, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and major executing agencies including NHAI, MEIL, APCO and Beacon, engage a substantial workforce directly or indirectly and, therefore, have a critical role in promoting compliance with labour laws and facilitating social security coverage for unorganised workers.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, while addressing the gathering, underscored the need for a coordinated district-level approach for effective implementation of the Labour Codes and the PM-SYM Scheme.
He emphasized that active participation of all stakeholder departments is essential for ensuring compliance with labour legislations and extending the benefits of social security schemes to every eligible worker. He also stressed the importance of conducting awareness and enrolment drives at the block and field levels to enhance outreach and facilitate greater coverage of eligible beneficiaries.
During the interactive session, officers from various departments discussed the challenges faced in identifying and registering eligible workers and deliberated upon measures to improve convergence among departments.
The Labour Commissioner directed all departments to nominate nodal officers, maintain close coordination with the Labour Department, and undertake sustained awareness campaigns for effective implementation of the Labour Codes and labour welfare schemes.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous commitment from all participating departments and executing agencies to strengthen inter-departmental coordination, intensify awareness and registration drives, and ensure effective implementation of the Labour Codes and wider coverage of eligible unorganised workers under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Scheme, thereby advancing the objective of providing comprehensive social security to the workforce in the district.
