Shortage of money, hands defeats purpose of Central Board for Workers' Education

KOZHIKODE: The Central Board for Workers’ Education (CBWE), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has failed to meet its objectives due to the shortage of officers and the meagre remuneration for the education programme participants and volunteers. The CBWE was established for imparting education among workers through soft skill development and to create awareness about various government projects among them.

However, the board is finding it hard to make an impact in the state due to the difficulty in getting participants for its free training programmes, thanks to the scanty allowances. The CBWE has two regional directorates based in Kozhikode and Kochi in the state. Though both are supposed to have five officers each, three posts, including that of regional director, are vacant in Kozhikode, and one post in Kochi.

“The CBWE is conducting a wide range of programmes for the organised /unorganised workers with special focus on rural areas. We also develop ‘workers teachers’ who in turn teach other workers. However, the per diem allowances for workers are just '100 without any provision for food.,” says Kochi regional director T.K. Lissy. State Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan, former minister E.T. Muhammed Basheer and Malappuram MLA P. Ubaidulla were some of the ‘workers teachers’ who had undergone CBWE training.

“However, with the available manpower, we are conducting programmes more than that of our original target number,” she added. The education programmes are conducted in association with local civic bodies and volunteers. But the volunteers also get the minimum amount of Rs 300 per day. “We have sent a proposal to the government to increase the allowances and we are hoping for a positive response,” said CBWE chairman K. Lakshma Reddy.