Lok Sabha Question No. 982 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Wages paid to labourers by BRO
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 982

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  July, 2022

## WAGES PAID TO LABOURERS BY BRO

## 982. SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  minimum  wage  standards  paid  to  labourers  hired  for  the  border  road  constructions along with the criteria fixed by the Border Road Organization (BRO) regarding wages to be paid to the labourers;
- (b) whether BRO hires labourers only for six months and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  total  number  of  labourers  hired  by  BRO,  State/UT-wise  along  with  the  facilities provided to them;
- (d) whether BRO follows the central labour laws in taking such measures for labourers and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the procedure relating to providing salary to the labourers; and
- (f)  whether  BRO  proposes  to  provide  monthly  salary  to  labourers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

| MINISTER OF STATE          | (SHRI AJAY BHATT)   |
|----------------------------|---------------------|
| IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |                     |

- (a): The wages for labourers in BRO are fixed at the level of Projects Headquarters of BRO keeping  in  view  the  minimum  wagesfixed  by  the  concerned  State  Government  and  the Central  Government  from  time  to  time.  The  wages  are  further  enhanced  considering  the altitude and difficulty in working conditions of the area of employment.
- (b)   BRO hires labourers as per workload in the area.
- (c)    TheState/UT wise details of no. of labourers hired by BRO during the last five years are given as per Annexure.

The mainfacilities provided to the labourers are:

- (i) Wages are paid directly into theirrespective Aadhaar linked bank accounts.

- (ii) Free  outdoor  medical  facilities  are  provided  to  the  labourers  in  BROmaintained medical facilities and at Army medical units in high altitudeareas. Free transport, including Air evacuation if warranted, is provided to labourers up toTertiary care hospitals. In addition, expenditure is made for any emergency,out of welfare funds.
- (iii) Free  accommodation in shelter/tents  including  snow  tents  is  providedapart  from provisioning of suitable clothing to overcome the vagaries ofclimate.
- (iv) At  certain  super  high  altitude  locations  in  Ladakh,  labour  is  providedwith  free ration and kerosene for cooking and warming purpose.
- (v) Free transportation from place of living to work site and back.
- (vi) In the case of death/disablement attributable to work, Ex-gratia lumpsum payment in terms of Workmen's Compensation Act 1923 aredone.
- (vii) Electricity,  clean  drinking  water  and  sanitation  facilities  are  being  provided  to labourers in camps.

(d): Yes, Sir. Relevant laws are followed.

(e) & (f): The salary, calculated as per total attendance of the labourers at the end of month, is being deposited in Aadhaar linked Bank Account of all enrolled labourers after due audit and verification.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.982 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2022 REGARDING WAGES PAID TO LABOURERS BY BRO.;

| Sl No   | State                   |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |
|---------|-------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1       | Andaman &Nicobar Island |       113 |       121 |       154 |       131 |       101 |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh       |      7999 |      7859 |      7968 |      9411 |      9519 |
| 3       | Assam                   |      8030 |      6988 |      7407 |      7588 |      7516 |
| 4       | Bihar                   |       327 |       274 |       255 |       297 |       252 |
| 5       | Chatisgarh              |        37 |        27 |        15 |         5 |        11 |
| 6       | Haryana                 |         0 |         1 |         1 |         2 |         3 |
| 7       | Himachal Pradesh        |      2117 |      1857 |      1811 |      1808 |      2171 |
| 8       | UT of J&K               |     12017 |     12583 |     13516 |     11712 |     11147 |
| 9       | Jharkhand               |     15260 |     13764 |     16524 |     17762 |     25015 |
| 10      | Kerala                  |         2 |         3 |         0 |         3 |         1 |
| 11      | Maharashtra             |         6 |         6 |         6 |         4 |         2 |
| 12      | Manipur                 |      1425 |      1674 |      1601 |      1295 |      1049 |
| 13      | Meghalaya               |         0 |         0 |         0 |         1 |         1 |
| 14      | Mizoram                 |       691 |       673 |       682 |       665 |       708 |
| 15      | Nagaland                |       881 |      1655 |      1433 |      1663 |      1602 |
| 16      | Orissa                  |       255 |       228 |       321 |       428 |       415 |
| 17      | Rajasthan               |      2522 |      2028 |      3396 |      4792 |      5082 |
| 18      | Sikkim                  |      3227 |      2513 |      3021 |      3460 |      3359 |
| 19      | Tripura                 |         5 |         8 |         9 |         5 |         5 |
| 20      | UT of Ladakh            |      1797 |      2003 |      2773 |      3820 |      4778 |
| 21      | Uttar Pradesh           |        94 |       108 |        91 |        89 |        84 |
| 22      | Uttarakhand             |      3973 |      4305 |      4573 |      4125 |      3280 |
| 23      | West Bengal             |      3257 |      2938 |      3294 |      2932 |      3884 |
|         | Total                   |     64035 |     61616 |     68851 |     71998 |     79985 |

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