The construction industry is largely fending for its workers on it’s own since the March 25 lockdown while the labour cess is yet to be utilized.
On their own or with help from Credai, developers have been supplying weekly essential packs to about 20,000 workers in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) region.
“It is a challenge. Making cooked food available is not an option as transportation and labour are a problem. So we are providing foodgrain that will last a week to 10 days,” said Suhas Merchant, president of Credai, Pune-Metro.
Some large developers have decided to go solo to take care of the workers. “Developers like Kumar Properties, Satish Magar, Pride Group, among others, have said they will do it on their own so that association can focus on coordinating elsewhere,” Merchant said.
Pune-based luxury developers Panchshil Realty and Kumar Properties are supporting the needs of about 2,500 workers each, while Gera Developments is supporting 900 workers across different sites.
Atul Chordia, director of Panchshil Realty, said his foundation is delivering about 12,000 food packets every week. Some of the packets are also given to those not linked to construction activity.
Meanwhile, the administration is yet to act on the developers’ request to allow work on site while maintaining social distance. “We feel that most of the workers are in very good spirits. We are also counselling them on the importance of getting back to work after the lockdown. Our concern though is that most of them are waiting to get back to their hometown sooner or later,” said Rohit Gera, managing director of Gera Developments.
Manish Jain of Kumar Properties said that he expects at least half the labourers to leave once the state and district borders open since labourers are concerned about the well-being of their family members. “Construction activity should be allowed. We take complete responsibility for people at our sites, including their stay, food and medical concerns. They just don’t earn for themselves, but also support many in their families back home,” said Chordia, “If this continues for a month more, it will be a disaster. It is not only about food.”
