Construction workers in Kohima grapple uncertainty due to lack of financial and health security

KOHIMA — The lives of construction workers in Kohima hang in balance as uncertainty looms large over the lack of social, financial and health security, even as they often engage in works that involve high risk and in unsafe environment.

They also find themselves out of work for up to half-a-year due to scarcity of work, making it difficult for them to make ends meet, forget about saving.

In a recent conversation with Eastern Mirror, a group of local workers in the construction sector shared the challenges they face. 

Veshuvo Chuzho, a 38-year-old construction worker, said that “no work means no money” and taking a day off from work means going hungry. He added that there were times when he had to take essential commodities and rations on credit.

Being the sole bread earner of the family with three children, life is not easy; he has to look after the education of his children who study in a private school in Kohima.

“Sometimes, I cannot pay their school fees on time with what I earn,” he said, adding that he has no other source of income.

Engaging and doing heavy works, these workers are always beset with health problems such as back pain, injuries and even accidents.

“Whenever we get sick and need to go to the hospital, we have to take loans from others as the money we earn is not enough. It becomes difficult when we get sick,” Chuzho, who engages in all sorts of works including lifting of stones, bricks, cement etc, said.

Rüpfüvoyi Rhakho (37), who resides in the same neighbourhood and works together with Chuzho, underscored that good health is all that matters for construction workers like them.

 “If we are in good health, than we are able to go to work and earn. But if we are to take a day or days off due to illness, than we need to work harder once we regain our strength in order to recover the loss incurred when sick. That is why it becomes very difficult for us to recover and our only prayer is that we don’t fall sick,” he shared. 

Working in high places

Despite being the eldest among his work circle, 60 year-old Melühü Khamo often finds himself working in high places as his co-workers are afraid of heights.

Recounting one of his experiences, he shared that he had to work on an under-construction fifth floor with only post and beam in place.

“I can literally see the ground floor from the fifth floor.  In addition, the beam was just 8 inch and my co-workers refused to go up as they were scared of heights. Usually, we do not have safety gears on us except for the required tools for the work. Such works are nerve-wrecking but we have to take risk anyway for the sake of providing for family,” he said.

Khamo added that they work only when they are fit and healthy. There is neither economic nor social security and health benefits for them. Whenever he or his family members fall ill, they have to take off for days and even months altogether. This means extra expenditure and zero earnings in those periods, which become a big burden, he said.

Inconsistency of wages

The local construction workers normally earn INR 800 on an average for seven to eight working hours per day during the working season. However, they cannot work consistently for almost a good half of the year due to prolonged monsoon and inclement weather.

Vethota Kezo (26), the youngest among the circle of workers, shared that sometimes his wage gets as low as INR 400 to 500 per day, especially during off-seasons and under those owners who aren’t so generous. In contrary, when there are works, he would be able work for extra hours (9 to 10 hours) and earn INR 900 to 1000.

 “I thought of saving some money for the dry seasons but it’s hard to save it as nothing comes for free in town (Kohima). We have to buy everything. In addition, we cough up half of our daily wage for taxi fares when the workplace is far,” he said.

Sometimes, when working under unsympathetic owners, they do not even get their wages in full or payment is delayed for months.

However, there are also good owners who take pity on them and would give extra money for the work they do, he shared.

Echoing similar experience, Khamo said that when they work under sparing owners, they have to work for eight hours straight without even being offered a cup of water of tea. During those times, they have to carry their own water bottles and packed food. On the other hand, he said there also generous owners who cook them sumptuous meal and take proper care of them. 

Sharing work opportunities

Engaged in a sector where daily works are not always guaranteed, the construction workers share work opportunities with one another which, Khamo said, is a “blessing.”

“In this way, we depend on each other and help out one another in times of need,” he added. 

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