January 13, 2014
Healthy body to improve productivity, WB Govt`s innovative initiative for labourers in the state
After taking a tough stand against strikes to end the legacy of the Left Front rule, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government now wants labourers to tone up their muscles and minds in gyms and augment industrial output.
The state Labour Department is going to set up gyms at several locations of the industrial belt in Barrackpore and other areas to enable labourers to increase productivity and also to help many of them get out of the pernicious addiction to alcohol.
A senior official of the labour welfare board said the department has over 30 centres spread over Howrah, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri for the welfare of the labour force. These centres are to be converted into gyms.
State Labour Minister Purnendu Bose has already spoken to the state Sports Department for starting gyms in the Barrackpore industrial belt and Belur as early as possible. He said the previous Left Front government had set up several computer centres, but many of these are still unused. These can be used to set up gyms.
Besides, the state Labour Welfare Department is also planning to use vacant fields as playground for the labourers and their family especially children.
“A lot of young boys from labour families are very good players, while many young labourers have talent which they can nurture in these playgrounds. Due to unavailability of space they are unable to hone their talent,” Mr Bose said.
“A relaxed mind could be very helpful for industrialisation. Our department is also repairing government-run tourist lodges so that workers can spend time there,” he added.
The state labour welfare board will supply footballs, volleyballs and carrom boards.
