Chandigarh, Punjab: BJP National Office In-Charge and MP Tarun Chugh has launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann government over the alleged proposed diversion of funds from the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund (BOCW), saying money meant exclusively for the welfare of construction workers and their families cannot be used for unrelated schemes.

Chugh said the BOCW fund is specifically intended to provide welfare benefits to construction workers and their families, including healthcare, education for children, safety measures, pensions and other forms of social security. He stressed that the BOCW fund is not part of the Punjab government’s general budget and therefore cannot be used by the state government at its discretion for other schemes. “Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal must explain why funds earmarked specifically for construction workers were sought to be linked with other schemes and why workers’ money was being considered for purposes unrelated to their welfare,” Chugh said.

Workers’ welfare money cannot be diverted, says Chugh

The BJP leader said the funds collected for construction workers are intended to secure their families’ education, healthcare, safety and social security. If the Punjab government wants to implement other schemes, he said, it should make separate provisions for them in the state budget instead of using funds specifically earmarked for workers.

Chugh further said that the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and objections raised by the Central Government have made the issue more serious. He demanded that the purpose of the BOCW fund be strictly protected and that the Punjab government provide a clear explanation to construction workers across the state.

‘Answer construction workers of Punjab’

Chugh alleged that the Bhagwant Mann government had “cast an evil eye” on workers’ welfare funds and accused it of attempting to use workers’ money for purposes unrelated to their welfare.

He said Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal must answer the construction workers of Punjab as to why their welfare funds were sought to be used for other schemes. “The money meant for the welfare of workers cannot be used for AAP’s political publicity and self-glorification,” Chugh said.