‘This is outright loot’: Haryana minister Anil Vij flags ‘Rs 1,500-crore scam’ involving fake construction worker registration

An alleged Rs 1,500-crore scam has come to light in Haryana’s labour department, with minister Anil Vij requesting Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to order an investigation into anomalies pertaining to the “fake registration of construction workers” eyeing benefits of various government schemes.

Vij said he got a preliminary inquiry conducted in his department after gross irregularities were found in at least six districts—Hisar, Jind, Sirsa, Faridabad, Kaithal, and Bhiwani.

“I recently chaired a meeting of the labour department, during which irregularities were not only found in the appointment of the labour board’s members but also in the distribution of benefits under schemes meant for construction workers,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“Large-scale irregularities were found. Thereafter, instructions were issued to the deputy commissioners of all the districts across Haryana about four months ago to form district-level committees. These committees include officers from the labour department along with three other officials of the respective district. Physical verification of online work slips issued to the construction workers between August 2023 and March 2025 was conducted. So far, a 100 per cent verification has been completed in 13 districts, while the process is going on in other districts,” the minister added.

Vij further said the verification committees were examining all aspects, including the actual existence of worksites, participation in construction work, employer details, local inquiries, and field inspections.

“During the investigation period, RTS (right to service) timelines were suspended, Saral centres were instructed not to accept new applications, and necessary information was issued to all grievance redressal platforms,” he said.

The minister also clarified that already approved pension schemes had not been stopped and that assistance related to deaths, accidents, and funerals was being provided on a priority basis.

546,509 work slips found illegal Vij said that 5,99,758 work slips were issued in 13 districts. Out of these, only 53,249 work slips were found to be valid, with 5,46,509 found to be illegal. Similarly, the minister said, out of a total of 221,517 worker registrations, only 14,240 were found eligible, while 1,93,756 registrations were found to be fake.

The 13 districts are Rewari, Nuh (Mewat), Mahendragarh, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Palwal, Panipat, Rohtak, Sonipat, Karnal, Panchkula, Sirsa, and Kaithal.

Ineligible people availing of benefits Elaborating on the size of the alleged scam, Vij said the Government had suffered financial losses worth hundreds of crores of rupees as a result of the irregularities. “It has become clear that in many places, entire villages were falsely registered and work slips were created so that ineligible people could take advantage of government schemes. On average, a worker receives benefits of up to Rs 2.5 lakh through various schemes, which could result in huge financial losses to the Government. Those who are not eligible are availing benefits of the schemes. This is outright loot…,” he said.

Welfare benefits for construction workers Welfare benefits for construction workers include maternity and paternity benefits, education assistance, scholarships, reimbursement for technical education, pensions, marriage assistance, medical aid, housing loans, and accident compensation. These benefits are supposed to reach only those workers who are properly registered, having undergone verification after completing a minimum of 90 days of work.

“There will be no compromise on corruption at any level, and strict action will be ensured against those found guilty,” Vij said.

Other benefits for registered construction workers Other benefits for construction workers include maternity benefit of Rs 36,000, paternity benefit of Rs 21,000, educational financial support for workers’ children ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000 annually (from primary to higher education), merit-based scholarships between Rs 21,000 and Rs 51,000 for children scoring 60 per cent to 90 per cent in Class 10 and 12 exams, reimbursement of full academic expenses for children pursuing professional or technical courses as per actual government expenses, hostel facility aid up to Rs 1.2 lakh for children of workers in vocational institutes, coaching assistance for vocational courses from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh, incentive of Rs 50,000 for registered workers’ daughters to purchase an electric scooter and a laptop grant of Rs 49,000 under the CM Shram Yogi Pratibha Yojana.

Additionally, there are Rs 5,000 for bicycle purchase, a tool grant of Rs 8,000, Rs 4,500 for a sewing machine, Rs 5,100 under the CM Women Construction Worker Samman Scheme, under the Kanyadaan Yojana Rs 1,01,00 for the marriage of up to three daughters of registered workers, Rs 50,000 for the self-marriage of a female worker, full reimbursement of actual second-class train or regular bus fare for pilgrimages or visits to historical sites, reimbursement of travel expenses for visiting one’s ancestral home, medical assistance including wage compensation based on minimum wage, financial assistance up to Rs 1 lakh for treatment of chronic diseases, disability support ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, a disability pension of Rs 3,000 per month, Rs 3,000 per month for children with disabilities, an old-age pension of Rs 3,500 per month, a family pension of Rs 1,750 per month, a widow pension of Rs 3,000 per month, Rs 5,15,000 compensation for accidental death at the workplace, Rs 1.5 to 3 lakh for disability at the workplace for unregistered workers, and Rs 4 lakh in case of the death of an unregistered worker at the workplace.

Interest-free loans of up to Rs 2 lakh for house purchase or construction and an Rs 1,100 incentive under the Mukyamantri Panjikaran Protsahan Yojna are additional benefits.

“To receive these benefits, workers must register with the labour board. Registration is granted only after verification that the worker has worked for over 90 days,” the minister said.