India, June 24 -- In a major welfare initiative aimed at improving healthcare access for one of the capital's most vulnerable workforces, the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Delhi Building and Construction Workers Health Scheme, offering cashless medical treatment worth up to Rs.2 lakh for registered construction workers and up to Rs.10 lakh for their families. The scheme is expected to benefit around 2.70 lakh registered workers and nearly 10 lakh family members across Delhi. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who described construction workers as the backbone of Delhi's development and said their health and social security remain a key priority for the government. Also Read - ED raids Delhi nightclub owner, others in 2021 Mundra port drugs seizure case Announcing the scheme, Gupta said, "The Delhi government is working with full sensitivity and commitment for the welfare of every section of society, particularly the poor, workers and underprivileged families. Construction workers are the foundation of the capital's development and strengthening their health and social security remains a key priority of the government." Under the scheme, registered workers and their eligible family members, including spouses, children and parents, will receive free healthcare services through empanelled hospitals and mobile medical units. While each worker will be entitled to cashless treatment of up to Rs.2 lakh, the coverage limit for a family will extend to Rs.10 lakh. Also Read - CM Gupta: New Jan 2025 cut-off expands rehabilitation coverage The Chief Minister noted that construction workers are regularly exposed to stone-cutting dust, chemicals, excessive noise, heavy machinery and physically demanding conditions, making them vulnerable to silicosis, respiratory diseases, skin disorders and other serious health complications. "A comprehensive health protection scheme for this section had long been lacking, and the present initiative has been designed to address that gap," she said. Apart from cashless hospitalisation, the scheme will provide annual health check-ups for workers and their spouses, free OPD and IPD services, diagnostic and laboratory facilities, emergency medical assistance and referral services. Mobile Medical Units will also deliver healthcare services directly at construction sites and in labour-dense areas. Also Read - Govt cracks down upon power theft To ensure transparency and effective monitoring, the government will create digital health records for beneficiaries and develop a modern beneficiary-tracking system. A 24x7 toll-free helpline will also be established for workers. According to the government, approximately Rs.200 crore will be spent annually on implementing the scheme. Calling it a broader social security initiative, Gupta said, "The scheme is not limited to providing healthcare alone, but represents a broader social security initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of workers and their families." She added that the Delhi government is committed to carrying forward the Centre's worker welfare initiatives, including Ayushman Bharat, the e-Shram Portal and the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, under the leadership of PM Modi.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.