Another day of freedom from work!

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Cut off from near and dear ones and living in a place where migrant workers of metro rail hardly know the language, the only solace for them on Independence Day is that they have freedom from the 12-hour grueling work.

Nearly a week after the accident at the metro rail site opposite the Pachayappa’s College near the Poonamallee road, the fear of safety has been drowned with the machines humming up again at various metro rail sites.

Fifty-five yearl old Radheshyam Yadav says safety is now much better than that existed nearly three decades ago when he joined work. “I used to work without helmets or shoes. Now safety is given more importance,” he says adding that after independence safety culture for workers have improved.

Yadav, who had met with an accident in Mumbai while working on the seas in Mumbai, prefers working at the metro rail site here and says it has adequate safety measures.

Interestingly, Independence Day holds special for Yadav who plans a flag hoisting ceremony at his barracks. However, for his young migrant counterparts it is just another holiday. “For us it means freedom from the work,” says Basant of Chhatisgarh who toils 12-hours daily. His friend from Jharkhand Raju conmcurs. “I will be calling my parents before catching some sleep.”

The things that weigh most of these workers during the independence day is rising prices of essential commodities and less salary to meet their ends. Basant says the salary is hardly enough. “I send money once is six months to my parents,” he says stating that by then the saving would be sizable.