Punjab isn't only building institutions of excellence that bring world-class infrastructure but also celebrating workers who build them: Sond
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
For decades, Punjab’s construction workers remained among the most invisible citizens of the state. Despite building its roads, schools, hospitals and homes, they lived in difficulty and poverty, trapped in bureaucratic delays and a welfare system that largely existed on paper. Under the Mann Government, that reality has begun to change in a decisive and measurable way.
At the heart of this transformation is a clear shift in governance philosophy. Instead of forcing workers to navigate a maze of forms, offices and delays, the Punjab Government has restructured the system itself. The Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (BOCW), the nodal agency for nearly two lakh registered construction workers across the state, has been overhauled to function with speed, dignity and accountability.
From Neglect to Accountability
Previous governments left behind a system where welfare benefits took an average of 206 days to be processed. With labour cards valid for only one year, construction workers often waited endlessly, unsure whether support would ever arrive. The Bhagwant Mann Government inherited not just administrative delays, but years of accumulated neglect and serious liabilities.
Instead of incremental tinkering, the government opted for structural reform. Unnecessary conditions that humiliated workers were removed. One of the most telling examples was the abolition of the Bal Aadhaar requirement for maternity benefits. Expecting families to obtain Aadhaar for newborns merely to access financial support was neither humane nor rational. That practice has now ended, restoring basic dignity to the welfare process.
Technology with a Human Purpose
What distinguishes Punjab’s reforms is not technology for its own sake, but technology designed to reduce hardship. Application processes that earlier passed through 11 stages have been simplified, with redundant approvals removed across 14 schemes. Departments now share data, ensuring workers are no longer asked to submit documents that the government already possesses.
Earlier, construction workers had to repeatedly visit schools and government offices to submit forms and then get Aadhaar verification done separately for education-related benefits. This meant losing daily wages and spending days running from one office to another. Now, because the entire system is online and technology-driven, there is no need for workers or their families to go anywhere for Aadhaar verification or linkage. Once basic details are submitted, the process moves automatically, saving time, money and effort. Similarly, health insurance benefits, now enhanced to ₹10 lakh, are accessible across hospitals without paperwork, ensuring zero-hassle treatment during emergencies.
Measurable Results, Not Rhetoric
The outcomes of these reforms are tangible. Average processing time for benefits has fallen by 64 percent, from 203 days to 73 days, with a further reduction to 45 days already in sight. Welfare disbursement has increased by 67 percent, rising from ₹93 crore in 2020–21 to ₹125 crore within the first three quarters of 2025–26, with projections crossing ₹150 crore by the end of the financial year. Most significantly, 81,000 construction workers have already received benefits this year, nearly three times the number supported earlier.
These figures translate into live change: school fees paid on time, medical emergencies handled without debt, dignity restored through Shagun assistance for marriages, and long-term security for families through fixed deposits for newborn girls.
Governance That Respects Labour
The recently held Labour “Kirt” Conference underscored this shift in approach, serving as a platform to consolidate reforms and strengthen field-level implementation through the launch of the BOCW Handbook. More importantly, it reflected the government’s intent to institutionalise welfare delivery rather than rely on announcements.
Speaking on the reforms, Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasised, stating: “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab is not only building institutions of excellence such as schools, hospitals, roads etc that bring world-class infrastructure but also celebrating the workers who build them. These many big bang reforms are proof of our commitment towards our construction workers. I would like to appeal to all construction workers to enroll with the Punjab BOCW Board and seek benefits of various schemes.”
Punjab’s reforms are also being seen as a model for the rest of the country. At a time when workers’ welfare and labour rights are being overlooked in many states and even at the national level, Punjab has taken the initiative to place labour welfare at the centre of governance. By prioritising the needs of construction workers and ensuring benefits reach them in time, Punjab is setting an example for other states and the nation to follow.
In an era where welfare is often reduced to slogans, Punjab’s construction worker reforms stand out for their seriousness, scale and outcomes. By treating workers with trust and respect, the state has demonstrated that welfare ceases to be charity and becomes justice.