Social-distancing norm goes for a toss at Chandigarh's Labour Chowk

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 10

Daily wagers coming to find work at a temporary arrangement at the Sector 44/45 Labour chowk are at risk amid the Covid-19 scare. Labourers, already hit by no work and low income, gather at the chowk in large numbers flouting the social-distancing norm.

Besides, no basic arrangements have been made for a mandatory medical screening at the venue, which puts them at higher risk in these tough times.

“No medical screening is conducted here as of now. A person or company, who hires us for a day or two, checks us. They check our body temperature as we enter the construction site. If we go to work on hourly wages or for a small repair work in houses, there’s no provision for any screening,” said Ramesh, a plumber.

A majority of times, labourers surround people or their vehicles stopping at the Labour chowk urging the latter to hire them. “Even we don’t want to surround vehicles or touch them. But, when one person does that accidently, then there is no stopping for others. There has literally been no work these days and if someone comes, our hopes rise. We are not doing it out of choice,” said Prince, a daily wager.

Most labourers come from nearby sectors, including Sector 45, Kajheri and other places, including Mohali. “The Administration provided us food for some time, but since one month there has been nothing. No face masks have been provided to us. We have a common area to drink water, which remains open for all. There is no other way to earn living,” said Muna, also a daily wager.

People sit together and play cards at the temporary arrangement. “What else can we do to kill our time when we don’t have work. There is nothing new to discuss. We just hope and wait for someone to come so that we can make some money. Playing cards or sitting together won’t make a difference,” said Mai Lal, another daily wager.