Some report on Mega Hostel construction going in Nit Calicut , Kerala 673601
In around 5 acres of space construction of mega hostel project is going on in our college Nitc. These are the few conclusions from the conversations with few of the workers here.
Kirti (age-34) from W.B.
Waking up as early as 6 am , doing all the initials and having some dry flour mixed with salt or simple “chooraa with shakkar” and then he has to walk for 30 minutes to reach the construction site. And then working all throughout the day for continuous 13 hours with only one break in between for afternoon meal. He also has to face communication problems when out for buying equipments in the market. Earns 5500rs monthly .
Ashish Mehta (32) -as innocent as by his face a father of 4 year girl “aunuta” is also from malda west bengal. His father a x-army officer . But since his father as always away , he unaware of the significance of studies never paid attention . Hence finally after getting married he had no other option to come 2.5 thousand km away to carry few 10s of 20 kg weighing brick each fetching him just 7.5 rs. People will say the more he carries the more he earns but friends there is limit to what our body can bear. Already his almost all nerves were visible . He said he would be working for another 2 months to make it a complete 2 year. On asking if he is giving adequate education to her sole daughter he says “she has just started studying and nearby there is cbse school . Adding to this he says he wants her daughter to become engineer or doctor” . This one sprinkled a spark of positivity that a labor who works day and night wants her daughter to become big.
Narayan mishra- he is from gopalganj in bihar comes in adjacent upper level of labors as per the definitions we go by. He takes a pride in calling himself Brahmin and some other remarks which showed he has got seriously a sense a of pride more then the confidence. Some of his remarks clearly proved the lack proper education fueled by superstition. He says how castism is still so much lively here and he outrageously support it.
Reality was even some women were working here mostly coming with their husband right from extreme north and east. Around 60% working here were from bihar 35% from W.B. and rest the locals. Working day and night for months and sometimes even from years leaving their family in utter alien world with rare calls to their family like celebrations of most festive deepwali while for many there was never a family . I remember a boy who hesitated to talked to me could only say he was30 year old but looking even younger then me. So leave aside basic other necessities a proper health was also not possible for them . And they are in thousands in the same 450 acre campus of Nit Calicut unaware of other hundreds of hunters keeping a eyes on them like aids , cholera , diahhrea , accidents and many. And they are in thousands in the same campus whom I only came to know after completing almost 2 years here. And still the no difference , pity on me and many for our ignorance which we never realize unless we remain ignorant.
I hope someday few read this and feels the irony to bring a change in whatever way they feel inspired to do for we are all humans with pains and sorrow , life and death , sadness and bliss , birthday and death day. Lets spread the awareness and complete the bridge , link the thoughts.
THE BRIDGE 