The Refund of Contribution Scheme is a welfare initiative by the Puducherry Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under the Labour Department of Puducherry. Under this scheme, when a registered construction worker passes away, the Board refunds the contributions paid by the deceased to the nominee or dependent. The refunded amount is transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) within 7 days into the nominee’s bank account.
Benefits
- Refund of Contribution:
- The full amount of contribution paid by the deceased is repaid to the nominee.
- The refund is credited within 7 days through DBT.
Eligibility Criteria
- Citizenship:
- The applicant (nominee) must be a citizen of India.
- The deceased construction worker must have been a citizen of India.
- Nominee/Dependent:
- The applicant should be the nominee or a dependent of the deceased construction worker.
- Registration & Age:
- The deceased must have been registered as a Construction Worker with the Welfare Board.
- The deceased should have completed 18 years during their lifetime.
- The deceased should not have reached 60 years in the preceding 12 months in construction work.
- Contribution:
- The deceased must have contributed regularly to the Board’s Fund.
- The deceased must not have defaulted on contributions for a continuous period exceeding one year.
Application Process (Offline)
Application Steps:
- Obtain Application Form:
- Visit the Office of the Puducherry Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board at Industrial Estate, Thattanchavady, Puducherry (605 009) to collect the prescribed application form free of cost, or print the form provided in the “Application for Welfare Benefits” section (Page No. 77 of the Citizen’s Charter).
- Complete the Form:
- Fill in all mandatory fields, paste a passport-sized photograph (signed if required), and attach copies of all required documents (self-attested as needed).
- Submit the Application:
- Submit the completed and signed form along with the documents to the concerned authority.
- Obtain Acknowledgment:
- Request a receipt or acknowledgment that includes the submission date, time, and a unique identification number (if applicable).
Note:
- The application must be submitted within two months from the date of death of the construction worker.
Documents Required
For Registration (of the deceased, for reference):
- Duly filled and signed registration application form.
- Birth/Transfer/Doctor Certificate for age verification.
- Experience Certificate from a registered Engineer/Contractor/Association/Trade Union (evidence of construction work).
- Details related to the construction work or worksite.
- Proof of blood group (Medical Health Card or Laboratory Certificate).
- Two passport-size photographs.
- Ration Card.
- Aadhaar Card.
- Bank details.
- Family particulars and nomination details.
- Certificate from the Revenue/Social Welfare/Anganwadi Officials of the respective area.
For Application (Refund Claim):
- Original Last Subscription Bill.
- Original Board ID Card.
- Aadhaar Card.
- Ration Card.
- Burial Permission Letter.
- Death Certificate.
- Nominee’s Aadhaar Card and Ration Card.
- Bank Passbook.
- Proof of relationship between the nominee and the deceased.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is there an age limit for eligibility under this scheme?
A: There is no age limit for the nominee; however, the deceased must have been at least 18 years old during their lifetime and not reached 60 years in the preceding 12 months of construction work.
Q: Can the nominee be someone other than a family member?
A: The scheme requires the applicant to be a nominee or dependent of the deceased. Typically, this is a family member; details may be clarified per specific guidelines.
Q: What is the primary benefit offered under the scheme?
A: The scheme offers a refund of the contribution amount paid by the deceased construction worker, transferred directly to the nominee’s bank account via DBT within 7 days.
Q: How long does it take to receive the benefit after application?
A: The refunded amount is credited within 7 days of the application process.
Q: Are there any restrictions on how the benefit amount can be used?
A: The scheme is designed to refund contributions; there are no specific restrictions on how the nominee uses the refunded amount.
Q: Where can the application form be obtained?
A: The form can be obtained from the office of the Puducherry Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board or printed from the “Application for Welfare Benefits” section in the Citizen’s Charter.
Q: Is there any cost associated with obtaining the application form?
A: No, the application form is provided free of cost.
Q: What is the time frame for submitting the application after the worker’s demise?
A: The application must be submitted within two months from the date of death.
Q: Can the application be submitted online?
A: Currently, the scheme requires an offline submission.
Q: What support does the scheme offer if the nominee faces issues during the fund transfer process?
A: Grievances related to fund transfers can be addressed through the grievance redressal mechanism as per the scheme guidelines (refer to Page No. 131).
Q: Are there any relaxations in the eligibility criteria for workers with disabilities?
A: Specific relaxations for workers with disabilities are not mentioned; please refer to the latest guidelines for further details.
Q: Can the nominee choose the mode of benefit transfer, such as cheque or electronic transfer?
A: The refund is processed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) only.