Manipur MLA Janghemlung Panmei has said that labour unions are the backbone of society and stressed upon the need to adopt sincere work approach. He called upon all to work with a sense of responsibility and work hard to improve the economy of Tamenglong.
Panmei was speaking as the chief guest at the first-ever ‘International Labour Day’ organised in Tamenglong district by the Labour Union Tamenglong (LUT) at Indoor Stadium, Tamenglong HQ.
Encouraging local labourers to work for a long-term good, he said non-locals will leave only when local people start involving in every kind of work.
“We need not fight or chase migrant workers out but they will leave when locals start working in every kind of work with competition,” Panmei said, adding, "As a local MLA, I am always with you". He also said that there are many schemes for daily wage labourers like health schemes or insurance, etc.
Panmei further said that he was inspecting various development projects being taken up in Tamenglong and the district will bloom once they are completed.
Sub- divisional officer Tamenglong Rohit Anand also attended as guest of honour and spoke on the occasion.
Christian Heritage Institute chairman Kaningai Riamei and advocate Kalangai spoke as resource persons in the first-ever International Labours’ Day held in Tamenglong district.
Labour Union Tamenglong chairman Laymon Kahmei informed that the union was established in 2017 and started functioning in 2021- 22. He informed that local and non labourers have started registering and urged all daily labourers to get registered.
Meanwhile, Kaningai Riamei pointed out that the International Labour Day was first observed in 1889 in Paris while India started observing in 1923. He pointed out that the unorganised sector comprises 90 per cent of the total workforce in India contributing about 50 per cent of the GDP.
Riamei gave a brief picture of the unorganised sector in Tamenglong and drew a comparison between the composition of locals and migrants in each sector.
Special focus was drawn on Manipur building and other Construction Workers’ Welfare board (MBOCWWB), its activity and schemes under the Welfare Board. He mentioned that some of the schemes under MBOCWWB include Health Insurance/Maternity Benefits, Immediate Assistance in case of accident, Scholarship schemes for the beneficiaries’ children, Loans and advances for construction of house, Old-age Pension scheme for beneficiaries and other skill development.
He also encourages enrolment under E-Shram for availing similar central Government’s Schemes too.
He further exhorted the associated bigger players (Head labourers/Workshops/Carpenters, ETC) under LUT to register as enterprise under MSME to avail appropriate, timely and friendly financial assistance as bank loans or subsidies.
Lastly, he encouraged the LUT to grow stronger and become a force uniting all workers and bringing development to Tamenglong.
