Grant for the Purchase of Working Tools

Grant for the Purchase of Working Tools (O.B.O.C.W.W.B) offers a one-time cash reimbursement of ₹4,000 to registered construction workers in Odisha who buy tools needed for their trade. Applications for 2026 are open on the official Nirman Shramik portal, and the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board continues to settle genuine tool purchase bills of eligible members.

This state-level scheme is managed by the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under the Labour and ESI Department of Odisha. A worker registered with the Board can claim the money back by producing original bills or vouchers, which helps in keeping the equipment needed for a steady income.

Grant for the Purchase of Working Tools - Introduction

The scheme covers skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled building workers, including masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and general labourers. It works alongside other Board benefits such as Nirman Shramik Kalyan Yojana, and the Board pays a one-time amount for purchase of working tools or safety equipment, so a member can claim this support only once during the membership period.

Workers can apply online through the Nirman Shramik portal or offline through the local District Labour Officer. The tools bought should match the occupation written on the worker identity card, and every bill should carry the shop details and the signature of the worker with the words PAID BY ME. Registered workers can also check the progress of their application on the official portal.

Key Information

Benefits

An eligible worker registered with the Board receives a one-time reimbursement of ₹4,000 for the purchase of professional tools. The amount is paid after verification of the original purchase bills, and it reduces the money burden of buying equipment that is needed daily at work sites.

Eligibility

Workers must meet both the general registration rules and the scheme-specific rules to get this grant. Main conditions are given below.

• Resident of Odisha: A person should live in Odisha and work in the building or construction sector.
• Age between 18 and 60 years: Only workers in this age range can register with the Board.
• Minimum work period: A worker should have worked in construction for at least 90 days during the previous year.
• Registered member for one year: The worker must be a registered member of the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for at least one year.
• Tools match the trade: Purchased tools should directly relate to the occupation written on the official identity card.
• No duplicate membership: A person should not be a member of any other welfare fund created by law.

For example, if Ramesh is a registered mason and buys specialized trowels and levels, his purchase will be eligible for reimbursement because these tools match his trade.

Application Process

Workers can apply online through the Nirman Shramik portal or visit the local District Labour Office. New workers must complete their registration on the portal first, and existing members can directly apply for the grant.

Online Application Process

STEP 1 - Open the official Odisha BOCWW Board login page and select the One Time Registration option if you are a new worker.

STEP 2 - Read and accept the declaration, fill the registration form with personal and professional details, and create your account.

STEP 3 - Log in to your account, add professional, personal and banking information, and pay the annual contribution online using the pay annual contribution page.

STEP 4 - Open the Benefit section in the menu, choose the grant for purchase of working tools, and submit the application with the required details and bills.

STEP 5 - Track the status of the application on the application tracking page until the payment is credited to the Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Offline Application Process

STEP 1 - Download Form-XLIV for grant for purchase of working tools from the official portal.

STEP 2 - Attach self-attested copies of the required documents along with the original purchase bills.

STEP 3 - Submit the complete application to the local District Labour Officer, Assistant Labour Officer or Rural Labour Inspector.

Documents

Keep scanned copies of the following documents ready before submitting the application. Each scanned copy should be under 500 KB.

• Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card and official Registration ID card of the worker.
• Verification: Passport size photograph, signature and employment certificate.
• Financial Details: Aadhaar-linked bank passbook front page and proof of annual contribution paid to the Board.
• Purchase Proof: Original invoices or bills of the tools purchased.

Important Note: Every bill should come from a recognized shop, contain its TIN or SRIN number, and carry the signature of the worker with the words PAID BY ME written on it.

Definitions

Building or other construction work includes construction, repair, alteration or demolition of buildings, roads, bridges, irrigation systems and similar works. It also covers specialized tasks like electrical wiring, plumbing, stone crushing, carpeting and installation of safety systems such as fire fighting equipment. Work covered under the Factories Act, 1948 or the Mines Act, 1952 is not included.

A building worker is a person employed for manual, technical or supervisory tasks in construction work, excluding those in managerial or high-level administrative positions.

Full legal definitions and notifications are available on the official Act download page of the Board.

References

Detailed rules, notifications and forms are available at the following government sources:

• Guidelines and rules of Odisha BOCWW Board
• Circulars and notifications of Odisha BOCWW Board
• Standard procedure letter for working tools grant
• Form-XLIV application for working tools grant

FAQ's

What is the age requirement for registration?

A worker must be between 18 and 60 years old to register with the Board.

Is there a minimum service requirement?

Yes, a worker should have worked in the construction sector for at least 90 days in the year before applying.

How much is the registration fee?

A registration fee of ₹20 is payable, and a renewal fee of ₹50 applies when required. Registered members also pay the annual contribution as per the rules.

Can my application be rejected even after paying the fee?

Yes, the registering officer reviews each application on its merits, and it can be rejected if the requirements are not met.

What happens if I use fraudulent documents?

Providing false information can lead to recovery of funds under the OPDR Act and immediate cancellation of membership.

Where do I submit my application?

Applications can be submitted online through the Nirman Shramik portal or in person at the local District Labour Office.

How can I track the status of my grant application?

Workers can check the progress on the application tracking page of the official portal.