Raju is extremely excited to know he is being interviewed by a reporter. This is because he has never met one. The 37-year-old works relentlessly at a construction site, trying hard to stay overtime—more than 12 hours—to fetch a few extra bucks. He has travelled to the capital for this government job from the border areas of West Bengal, near Bangladesh. Leaving behind his ill father, wife and children, Raju says he will travel anywhere in the country where there is work for him.
Despite his broken Hindi, Raju is comfortable living in new cities. He is content knowing he is allowed to return home every few month to his family. He saves the Rs 500 to 600 he earns to take back to his family. Tucking his shirt in, he stands tall and asks for his photograph to be taken. Next month, he will go to Chennai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda of development goes hand-in-hand with construction work. Labourers toil to the humdrum tunes of India’s expansion. There are 459 million workers across the country, the second largest workforce after China. Of this, 94% or 433 million people are in the unorganised sector—workers with flexible wages, negligible job security, poor chances of growth, no paid leave and with inadequate access to government schemes. (Data: National Sample Survey Organisation survey of 2004-05)
Raju’s father wasn’t a construction worker. His son may not be a construction worker either. The expansion of the sector in the last decade mirrors the growth of the country. However, most of the faces which help build India are never seen.
In light of Independence Day, let’s give thought to the people, who wander across the country building our homes, our offices, our lives.
