Curation Team
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Law and industries minister P Rajeeve said the renovation work of dilapidated housing units attached to the defunct estate in Bonacaud would be completed by Dec. The workers would receive renovated housing units as a New Year gift, he said.
Inaugurating the renovation work of the housing units, Rajeeve stated that the govt would make maximum efforts for the reopening of the tea estate.
The renovation of 43 housing units, benefiting 186 families, is being carried out at a cost of Rs 4 crore, which includes a contribution of Rs 2 crore from plantation department and Rs 2 crore from labour department’s Plantation Workers Relief Fund.
The District Construction Centre is carrying out the construction with a set target to complete the work by the end of Dec. “The project is a joint effort between the labour and industry departments to provide relief to families who were living in dire conditions for a long time,” the minister said. He added that since the current govt took office, 50% of the workers’ gratuity arrears were settled.
Minister for general education and labour V Sivankutty, who presided over the event, said that ensuring workers’ welfare was govt’s goal and providing safe and dignified housing was a commitment. The event was also attended by district collector Anu Kumari, G Stephen, MLA, representatives from various local self-govt bodies, public organisations, political parties and district labour officer A Biju.
