Shillong, May 1: More than 11,000 registered construction workers and labourers in Meghalaya will receive Rs 5000 as financial assistance under the CM-LIGHT scheme launched by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today.

The scheme was launched by Sangma during a programme to celebrate the International Workers’ Day today.

The workers who will benefit from the financial assistance are those who have registered themselves with the Meghalaya Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

The assistance under CM LIGHT scheme was generated from the Rs 400 crore of labour cess collected from contractors executing construction projects in the State.

According to Sangma, 5000 projects worth Rs 2900 crore have directly created jobs to construction workers in the State.

“Meghalaya is giving Rs 525 of wage per day for unskilled labour making it the third State in the country to give the highest rate for unskilled labour after Karnataka and Goa,” he said.

The chief minister also informed the 1 per cent labour cess collected on the cost of construction is used to generate funds for the Workers Welfare Board to provide health, pension and education benefits to labourers and also help them when they meet with any accident at the work site.

During the programme, Sangma also launched various schemes for workers. These include the ENABLE (Enhancing Necessary Ability for Better Learning Environment).

Under this scheme, 5 per cent of the seats in educational institutions will be reserved for children of workers registered with the Workers Welfare Board.