In the Workers’ Center in Delhi, construction workers like Anguri and Mamta are forced to work in harsh conditions without accessing basic equipment, including toilets. Many face serious health risks without a proper place to relieve or manage their menstrual cycle. They also worry about losing their daily wage if they speak. One of the female workers, while talking to Indian Express, remembered the incident where the owner of the five -storey house refused to let it use the toilet inside. “He dropped me out of work,” he says.
Originally from Uttar Pradesh, they moved to Delhi in search of daily wage construction. Now, like many others, they are waiting for Chowk and hope to hire a day.
But Anguri doesn’t feel good. Her thighs are painful. While working on her period she had to squat without a proper toilet nearby. “We’re going to the toilet before working; if we say it’s urgent … We’re afraid the supplier will remove us,” Indian Express said.
Mamta speaks quietly, surrounded by men smoking Beedis. “We use a cloth during our menstrual cycle … There is no safe space to change it. We are forced to find a quiet place and turn the fabric … we end up using the same cloth from 8:00 to 18:00.”
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Thousands of female building workers face similar challenges through Delhi-NCR. Most sites lack safe and clean toilets – even if the law requires them. The 1996 Building Act (regulation of employment and service conditions) is obliged to provide the employer for the employer to provide the right toilets, food canteens and children’s care in places.
Back to Chowk, the supplier still has to arrive. Anguri takes off the torn blue slippers and sits on them and adjusts her sari. She remembers that she was fired from work and asked to use the toilet inside an almost finished house. “He dropped me out of work,” he says. Then, when she pointed to her wrist, she adds: “How do they differ? If you cut my wrist, you will find the same blood color.”
About 20 km in the newly built World Trade Center in Nauroji Nagar, another group of women face similar problems. In the complex now contains 12 towers, fantastic offices, parking and roof restaurants – but those that are built are denied a clean toilet.
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Work outside the tower is Kallad, at the age of 60 and 25 -year -old Rupa Devi. Kallad scrape dried cement from the sidewalk using the tool. She has been here for more than a year and did everything from lifting the bricks after mixing the cement. “Jawaharlal Stadium ki Buniyaad Humare Saamne gave. I know many places in Delhi,” he says with pride.
But every day it brings new hunting – not to work, but for a usable toilet. The place has four portable toilets, but the smell is unbearable. Rupe checks one but leaves quickly. “We prefer to pay.” £5 Use of a public toilet located remotely in front of the complex, ”he says.
Although there are toilets inside the buildings, women say they must not use them. “The guard keeps the door to the toilet located inside the locked building. Kehta Hai Sir/Madam Log to Liye Hai,” says Kallad. “They didn’t let us in,” Rupa adds, sipping from a water bottle softening warmth.
He says they even asked employees to clean the portable toilets, but nothing has changed.
In e -mail answers to Indian Express NBCC said:
“The main construction work has been completed. Currently, the buyers are carried out by interior work.
When asked who was responsible for the establishment of a mobile toilet, an NBCC official – who did not want to be named – said, “There is no clarity who set it; it could be the owners who do interior work because the work of NBCC is completed.”
The law guarantees dignity and safety at work, but for thousands of women such as Anguri, Mamta and Rupa, there are also fundamental rights such as hygiene, out of reach.
(Tagstotranslate) Delhi News
