Darker side of the Games; the pathetic condition of labour

The Lok Sabha was today privy to the darker side of the preparation of the XIX Commonwealth Games, the deplorable condition of the workers engaged in its construction work. What gets highlighted in the media and other places is the prowess of the nation in holding the Games, the modernisation of the city by way of many more flyovers, the extension of the road network, the upgradation of various stadia, the attempt to rapidly spread the metro network and many other such things about which the Delhiites can be justly proud of. The terrible condition of the labour and those engaged in making Delhi a better place to live in is lost sight of.

The issue of a beter deal for the workers was raised by Mr M B Rajesh, CPI(M), during Zero Hour. He said nearly one lakh families have been evicted for beautification of the city, a large number of labourers do not get alternate employment after the completion of civil work, there was large scale deployment of child labour, labour laws were being freely flouted and the living condition of these workers leaves much to be desired.

Besides, Minimum wages are rarely paid.

He cited statistics in this regard and wanted the Central and State government to rise to the occasion and set things in order.