Labour department's plan to give laptops to children of constriction workers put on back burner

The state labour department's plan to provide laptops to children of construction workers has run into rough weather with the chief secretary and the high power committee (HPC) asking the department to place the proposal before the state cabinet for approval. The chief secretary is apparently apprehensive about spending a huge amount on the project.

The labour department had planned to provide tablets to children in classes up to standard X, and laptops to college-going children of construction workers registered with the state's construction workers' welfare board.

There are around 1.80 lakh construction workers thus registered and the board has a kitty of Rs 1,000 crore. And keeping the elections in mind, the labour department had wanted to see the project through last year itself.

The department even wanted to provide laptops to children of domestic maids. However, domestic maids board did not have required funds, so the department had sought money for the purpose from the government.

"The chief secretary was not so keen on the project as it involves a huge expenditure. Besides, the HPC that looks into all projects that involve expenditure of more than Rs 5 crore, wanted the proposal to be placed before the cabinet," said an official in the office of the minister of labour.