Imphal, February 13: Labour and Employment Minister Ph Parijat has announced that two night shelters for the workers engaged in unorganised sector would be set up in Imphal.

Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural function of the 3-day long State level training programme on Human Empowerment and Development of the North East Region being organised by Central Board for Workers Education, Regional Directorate, Imphal at Hotel Imphal here today, the Minister said Manipur is a State where a large number of people are engaging in unorganised sector.

So it is the duty of the Government to look after the welfare of the workers in this sector.

Workers in the unorganised sector like women selling vegetables and other items in the market or those engaged in quarrying activities and porters sometime face difficulty in returning home after work at night.

Thus, compelling them either to put up at the residence of some their acquaintances or in rented room.

In order to solve this problem and provide them a secure place for spending the night, construction of two night shelters will commence from April this year, the Minister informed.

Parijat further said that the Govt will also take up necessary steps from next year to rehabilate child labourers who are working in hotels, residential houses as well as in market places.

Even if there are no big factories or industries, the number of workers in Manipur is huge but most of them are in unorganised sector, he said.

Apart from not getting the required education, they do not care to register themselves or form unions.

As a result, difficulties are being faced at the time of taking up welfare measures for them, the Minister said, adding that officials of the Labour Department also seem to forget their duties.

Member of Steering Committee, NER Vision 2020 Prof Mohendro Singh presided over the inaugural function of the training programme being organised in connection with the golden jubilee celebration of the Central Board or Workers' Education which is under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

Central Board for Workers' Education, Imphal Regional advisory committee member E Dolendra Singh and Director of CBWE Regional Directorate KK Singh were also present at the occasion as guests of honor.

In his address, Prof N Mohendro observed that that out of every 100 people in Manipur, 93 of them are engaged in unorganised sector while only 7 of them are working in the organised sector.

So the development of the financial condition of the State depend on the work efficiency and understanding of their rights by all those who are engaged in the unorganised sector, he noted.

Trade union activists from all the nine districts of the State participated in the training programme.

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