---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: venukm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Jun 2, 8:27 am
Subject: Report of the fact finding/'Janakeeya Manushyavakasa
Prasthanam/on the death of two Bengali labourers in the construction
site of Olive Builders at Edachira opposite to Infopark,Kakkanad
To: grey youth movement
" > 6) Even though violation of labour laws is so rampant the
concerned
Government departments do not take any action. Neglect of safety
measures,
exploitation of labour, low wages, unscientific and illegal
construction
works and fraudulence taking advantage of their ignorance in the
language is
widespread in this construction sector. Most of the workers are
ignorant
about even the name and address of builders and contractors. Often
they are
forced to work continuously without rest.
> 7) The established trade unions in the construction sector
are
reluctant to interfere against the exploitation of other state
workers. The
instance of local trade
union leaders coming against these workers as helpers of builders and
contractors are not rare."
Perhaps the entire (dis)credit goes to the politics of parochialism we
have consciously or unconsciously espoused in recent times.This
politics is nearly cleansed of any idea or expression of universal
rights, which all humans everywhere should strive best to protect.
These political leaders and their followers are apparently more
concerned with the possibility that those poor migrant workers might
snatch the gold chains of decent family ladies of Kerala, or might
venture housebreaking by night, while labouring in day time.Your sleep
is disturbed by the kind of anarchy and chaos described in the
Ramayana where the King doesn't adhere to his Kshathriya Dharma ;
(with the only difference now and then ,in that it was Asuras then
and now it is the dalit /BC immigrant labourers, rag-pickers,sex
workers et al and of course,the terrorists(read Muslim)!.
Therefore, you are advised always to keep vigil against them ).
Further, you're advised to best avoid this kind of engagement with HR
violations by the building contractors as the victims do not belong to
our constituency.
You're reminded of the need to keep silence on mob violences taking
place here and there against these people,which are done by
"us"against "them",
to teach them lessons in the interest to protect our colony/small town
from thieves,etc.
geedha geedha wrote:
> Report of the fact finding conducted by organising committee of 'Janakeeya
> Manushyavakasa Prasthanam(Peoples Human Rights Organisation) on the death of
> two Bengali labourers in the construction site of Olive Builders at
> Edachira opposite to Infopark,Kakkanad
> Large scale migration of other state workers to our state in search of job
> is not a new phenomenon. Biharis who reap rice and the meeting other state
> labourers at Perumbavoor town every Sunday are part of our present life.
> Their presence is more prominent in the building construction sector, which
> has a decisive place in the economy of Kerala. Construction of buildings for
> commercial and residential purposes has turned out to be very active in the
> economy of Kerala. Construction work has been grown from isolated
> enterprises to joint ventures and thereafter to a centralized one. This
> sector has become a venue for the capitalist forces to invest, from both
> inside and outside Kerala . It has been now changed into a major force which
> influences not only the economy but also the social life of Kerala. But the
> activities of this sector is dubious and non transparent. Lack of
> transparency is obvious in all the areas from the purchase land to the
> wages paid to the labourers.. Present status of the other state workers
> clearly depicts the difference between the notions about the high wages and
> union strength of the workers in Kerala and the actual situation. Today the
> workers from other states are essential part of the construction sector in
> Kerala. Nobody knows how many labourers from other states work in this
> sector. But everyone admits one thing - Labourers from other states working
> in this sector do not get wages and other amenities as a Keralite worker
> gets in the same sector. The conditions of these labourers - who reach here
> as cattle lead by labour contractors - are so pathetic. Previously major
> import was from Tamil Nadu , now it is from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. These
> workers employed here do not enjoy any labour rights least to say not even
> the essential . Accidents are common in this sector. But where death occurs
> only some news leaks out.
> Exploitation of other state workers has become a major source of profit for
> builders. It is not an exaggeration that many of the large scale
> construction projects in Ernakulam are started taking into account the
> availability and work potential of the other state workers. Their presence
> in the construction sector and the exploitation they facing is good example
> of the dominance of lifeless money over living human beings.
> It was on 16/04/2008 Sameer Behara from Koralda village, Purbo Madhenpur
> District of West Bengal and Navkumar Mythi from Horina village of the same
> district died in an accident while they were engaged in the construction
> work of a flat of Olive Builders in Kakkanad. This report includes the facts
> revealed to the fact finding team of Janakeeya Manushyavakasa Prasthanam who
> visited the place and conducted enquiry following the incident on
> 17.04.2008, 20.04.2008, and on 21.04.2008. Apart from the enquiry regarding
> the accident the report includes the details regarding the working and
> living conditions of the other state workers. Adv. Thushar Nirmal Sarathy,
> Jaison Cooper, Bruno George, Swapnesh, Martin and Adv. Nandini were the
> members of the fact finding team.
> On 17.04.2008,20.04.2008 and 21.04.2008 the fact finding team visited the
> accident site and collected the details from the workers and the local
> people. After that on 25/04/2008 the team met the District Labour Officer
> Mr. Sreehari and ASI of Thrikkakara Police station Mr. Mohanan .The report
> is based on the details collected by the team.
> The construction site of Olive Builders is in Kakkanad Edachira road near
> Infopark. The project includes about 17 villas and 5 flats. Since the
> approval of Smart city project , foreseeing the large scale residential
> necessity, now Kakkanad area is a centre of construction works. Presently
> there are more than 10 construction sites by the side of Kakkanad-Infopark
> route which is hardly 2 Kms. Another important aspect of this area is the
> unbridled increase in house rent. 80% of the workers engaged in the
> construction works are from other states. The site of the Olive builders is
> one of the large projects among the construction works in this area.
> The accident occured at the site of Olive Builders at 11.45AM on
> 16/04/2008.Sameer Behara and Navkumar Mythi fell down from the 18th floor of
> the building while plastering the outer wall . They were propped up in
> an iron bucket of about 7 meter long and 1 meter high. According to the
> other workers and the security personnel accident happened due to loosening
> and consequent separation of the nut and bolt joining the rope and iron
> bucket. Behara and Mythi died on the spot. According to the local people
> the supervisors and contractors who were present at the time of accident
> immediately ran way from the site. Only due to the interference of loading
> workers and local people they were taken to the hospital. The workers were
> brought to Sunrise Hospital Kakkanad, where death was confirmed by 12.45 PM.
> Absence of security measures and precautions which have to be ensured in
> dangerous construction works is obvious in this case. All the workers whom
> the team met unanimously agreed that no security measures are followed
> there. Safety belts were not given to the labourers who died. Both of them
> were the contract labourers of G.K contractors who supply workers for Olive.
> But when we asked the labourers where the Head Offices of G.K contractors
> and Olive Builders are located, nobody could answer. G.K Contractors
> distributes attendance cards to workers every month. In one of the cards
> issued for the month of February the address was given was "G.K Contractors,
> First Floor, Durga Lakshmi Building, T.D Road Cochin" where as in the card
> issued for the month of March it was written as "G.K. Contractors, KKN
> Complex, Kizhvana Road, Panampilly Nagar. P.O. Cochin".
> It is obvious that the death of the two labourers occurred due to the
> absence of security measures. If they were provided safety belt the accident
> would have been avoided. Building and Other Construction Workers Act of 1996
> details the safety measures and precautions to be taken during these types
> of construction works. But during enquiry the team could find none . Safety
> belts and Safety nets were not provided. Dilvar from Murshidabad and Amir
> Hussain from Cooch Behar told that they are not even provided with helmet
> and shoes which are compulsory for building/ construction workers as
> stipulated in above act. Labourers who were engaged in the construction of
> Tejomaya Building for L&T at Infopark also told us about the lack of safety
> measures at Olive's site. When asked 'How they know about the lack of
> safety measures in Olive's site' Jojo from Kolkotha who is a worker of L&T
> replied, that is a common sight these workers working without even a
> helmet in such heights.
> Thrikkakkara Police investigated the incident on 16/04/2008 and a crime was
> registered as Cr No.363/2008 under section 174 of Cr.P.C for the unnatural
> death of workers. Usually F.I.R has to be sent to the concerned Magistrate
> court. But the F.I.R registered u/s 174 Cr.P.C should sent to concerned Sub
> Divisional Magistrate. One important aspect of the F.I.R under section 174
> Cr.P.C is that the any name of the accused will not be given in the F.I.R.
> But during the investigation if any criminal
...
read more ยป
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