IT News
Imphal, Aug 30:
Almost all people across the globe are feeling the heat of the COVID-10 pandemic, Manipur is no exception and the irony is that when the curb has been reported flattened at most of the country across the globe the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Manipur is on the rise despite claim of keeping the situation under control by government authority. Today the situation of COVID -19 pandemic has reached almost all communities of the state with a report of almost 30 people without travel history infected by the virus at an average as per government report. The death toll in the state has reached 28 yesterday. Almost all section of people are affected but the worst-hit community are the daily wage earners and construction workers not because they are contracted with the virus but because they have to stay home without working as they are left with no means even though they are allowed to work as their community doesn’t want them to return back home.
“We have got contact from builders for construction but we cannot go out for work as we are not allowed to return back home”, a construction labourer said while adding that it was not just the locality but they too fear of returning home as they too feel concern of their family members. There is a fear that the virus may be contracted while meeting with unknown persons these days, he added.
The labourer however said that if they have a place for taking shelter then it will solve their problem.
In reality, the state Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Board under the state Labour and Employment department have constructed shelter homes for the labourers , but for reason best known, two shelter home constructed for the labourers at North AOC has been rented to individuals, a source said. Besides, the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Board have also sanctioned over Rs 2crore , 4 lakhs for construction of Shelter Home in December 2017. The sanctioned amount has been deposited on installment basis to the Engineering cell of the state Education Department. However, it has been three years that no construction of the shelter home for labourer has been seen taken up.
A source said the said amount sanctioned for construction of the Shelter home for labourers is not known to any board members of the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Board as no resolution has been taken for such construction in 2017-18.
The difficulties of the labourers during the pandemic could have been solved a bit had those authorities particularly the Chairperson of the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Board of that time had utilized the sanctioned amount judiciously.
