Mangaluru: K Mahanthesh, the state general secretary of the Karnataka State Building and Other Construction Workers Federation, has raised serious allegations regarding the misuse of funds collected by the Karnataka Labour Welfare Board. Speaking on Monday, Mahanthesh revealed that while the Board has collected nearly Rs 14,000 crore as cess since 2007, only Rs 6,500 crore has been allocated for the welfare of labourers.
Mahanthesh accused the Board of misusing the funds for purchasing cars, computers, television sets, furniture, and for modifying offices. He also claimed that substantial amounts were spent on distributing tool kits, ration kits, booster kits (Ayurvedic medicines), school kits, laptops, and medical check-ups under questionable circumstances. He criticized both the previous BJP government and the current Siddaramaiah administration for alleged corruption in these procurements.
The Federation has been advocating for the effective implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) in the labour department to ensure funds reach the intended beneficiaries. Although Labour Minister Santosh Lad had promised to halt all procurement activities and implement DBT effectively, this has yet to be fulfilled, according to Mahanthesh.
In response to these issues, Mahanthesh announced plans to hold a protest march to the Chief Minister’s residence in Bengaluru on August 5. He is calling for a judicial probe into the alleged corruption in the procurement processes related to labour welfare.