An IASH Work-in-Progress seminar, delivered by Dr Sruthi Herbert (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023-24)
Digitization for Social Welfare: Examining the Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) Welfare Funds in India.
Post-colonial nations such as India exhibit a variant of techno-nationalism, wherein technological prowess serves as a surrogate for self-sufficiency, fostering a sense of pride in the adoption of digital solutions for governance. Within this context, I delve into a case study where the techno-nationalist approach converges with the welfare entitlements of migrant construction workers situated on the peripheries of capitalist development.
The welfare of construction workers in India is addressed through the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) welfare boards, established specifically to mitigate the vulnerabilities faced by this demographic. These boards, operating at the regional or state level, boast unique administrative structures that have grappled with varying degrees of dysfunctionality over the years. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable acceleration in the digitization efforts of these boards, aimed at enhancing welfare delivery.
Through examination of digital data sets and interviews with officials affiliated with these welfare boards, I explore the evolving landscape of digital welfare delivery in India. This inquiry provides valuable insights into both the opportunities and challenges arising from the convergence of the administrative state with digital technologies.
Please join in-person, or click the link below to join the webinar:
https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81857401179
Passcode: 6aSe7GF7