Officials from the State NBOCWWB lead by Deputy Secretary & CEO, NBOCWWB, Er Vikeheto Naki, officials from NSSAA SAU Nagaland, BOCW beneficiaries, CSOs and media participated in the meeting.
Kohima, March 30 (MExN): A district-level Social Audit Public Hearing under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) scheme implemented during financial year 2024-25 was convened by the Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (NBOCWWB), Labour Department, Government of Nagaland, in collaboration with the NSSAA, Social Audit Unit Nagaland.
The hearing, held at the Office of the Labour Commissioner Conference Hall, Kohima on March 30, audited six urban local bodies (ULBs) and six villages in Kohima district. The urban areas audited included AG Colony, Agri Colony, Kenouzou, New Market, Midland and High School, while the rural villages covered were Zhadima, Dihoma, Nerhema, Chiephobozou, Botsa and Chiechama.
Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kohima, Neimenuo chaired the hearing. Assistant Director of NSSAA, Social Audit Unit Nagaland, Imlirenla Sanglir, in her introductory speech, briefed the gathering on the significance and importance of social audit under the BOCW scheme.
Social Audit Resource Persons Imsusenla Longchar (District Resource Person) and Vekuyhieto Venyo (Block Resource Person) presented the findings of the social audit, which were reviewed during the hearing. Issues highlighted included receipt of claims, renewal of identification cards, new registration, proper bookkeeping and adherence to guidelines.
The hearing was presided over by a panel comprising Neimenuo, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kohima; Thooadu Domeh, Member of State BOCW Welfare Board; Nunere Sale, CEO of NYS Nune's Construction, who represented the Ward-II Councillor of Kohima; Zekuseto Natso, Welfare Secretary of Angami Youth Organization (AYO); Thepfukhrietuo Rupreo, Finance Secretary of AYO; and Kelhousatuo, Representative of BOCW Workers.
The following resolutions were adopted to take corrective measures: sensitising beneficiaries about BOCW benefits, rights and entitlements; setting up common service centres for beneficiaries; proper bookkeeping with all required statutory records to be maintained by registered establishments under NBOCWWB; adherence to guidelines on implementation of the BOCW scheme; and open action taken reports (ATRs) to be addressed on or before April 15.
