Construction cos use cops to stop migrant workers from leaving Chennai

Some companies in Chennai are not allowing the migrant workers employed by them to return to their natives despite state governments, including Tamil Nadu, taking steps to bring back their people amid this ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

The companies, most of which are construction firms, are going to the extent of using police force to stop the migrants from leaving their premises in the city. This was brought to light by Aid India, a non-governmental organisation.

At least 1,100 migrants were forced to stay back in places like Alapakkam and Kanathur, said Balaji Sampath, founder, Aid India. These workers are employed by a Bengaluru-based construction firm.

“The workers, mostly men, are from Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. When we interacted with them, they said the company took their ID cards like Aadhaar, promising them train tickets back home. However, next morning, they brought police personnel and forced them to stay back and work as the construction site had opened,” said Sampath.

“They were neither paid for these 40 days, nor given proper shelter. Around 10 to 20 of them are staying in a small room and they also don’t have any money to buy provisions. The company has not taken any care of its workers, but is now asking them to stay back and work. This is equal to bonded labour,” he added.

Related news: Indignation, anger rock Karnataka as state cancels trains meant for migrants

“They don’t want to stay. All the workers want to go back home right now. If they want to go back, they should be allowed to return to their families. Railways has said they can provide trains within six hours, but the Tamil Nadu government is not even asking,” he added.

“At first, the Centre said that states can arrange trains and now it is saying only ‘pilgrims and stranded people’ can go back, and wants migrant workers to stay back and work. The state government is forcing people to stay back and work against their wishes. It is exploitation,” he said.

“These workers are so angry and frustrated, and it is not good for anyone. The government must send them back home immediately before their anger explodes and results in chaos,” said Sampath.

“The Constitution guarantees everyone the right to travel anywhere in India. States cannot make the unwilling migrant workers stay,” former Madras High Court judge K. Chandru told The Federal. The Constitution has prohibited forced labour. This is worse than slavery, he wrote on his Facebook page.

“The Tamil Nadu government has not sent any migrant workers to their homes till now. The construction lobby is pressurising the governments. The Supreme Court has to supervise what the governments are doing. But it keeps mum,” said Chandru.

Related news: Job scenario not pleasant for returning migrants in Bihar

Bernard D’ Sami, senior research fellow, Loyola Institute for Social Science Teaching And Research, said about five lakh migrant workers have registered with the state government and at least two lakh workers are willing to go back.

“But there is a problem. There must be an understanding between the sending and receiving states. Only then the Railways can send a train. But Tamil Nadu is delaying the initiative. Let them go back and be with their families for a month, and then they can return to work,” he said.

Two trains will be enough to take back the migrant workers to their homes, said Sami. “One train can pass through the East Coast from Tamil Nadu to Kolkata so that migrant workers from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be able to get down on the way. The other one can pass through Chhattisgarh and Bihar,” he added.

S. Sridharan, vice president, CREDAI Chennai, an apex body of real estate developers, said the problem is caused by the contractors and not by developers.

“No one can ask an unwilling migrant worker to stay back. We can try to convince a worker, but not compel. The present problem has arisen because of the contractors. Only they have direct contact with them, which we developers don’t. It is the contractors who withheld the workers’ Aadhaar cards, etc. From our side, we have given food supplies and organised medical check-ups for the workers,” he said.

From May 6, some of the construction companies have started their work with a maximum of 50 workers. The construction sites are sanitised and the workers are advised to maintain social distancing, said Sridharan.