Civic body to set up shelters for daily wagers

Ranchi: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is planning to build permanent shelters for daily wagers at several roundabouts in the city called ‘labour chowks’ or ‘Shramik Samman Kendras’ where they can rest while waiting for work.

Labourers from neighbouring areas come to the city each morning in search of employment. They gather at prominent chowks and wait to be hired by private construction companies, small and medium businessmen, or private individuals. Some, however, do not get any job on a specific day and end up spending the entire day outdoors, exposed to harsh weather conditions.

According to the RMC’s plan, the shelters will come up at Doranda, Morabadi Maidan, Kadru, Lalpur Chowk, Birsa Chowk and Singh More, among other places.

Each shelter is expected to cost around Rs 12 lakh and will include basic facilities. “The shelters will be offered free of cost,” Nikesh Kumar, assistant municipal commissioner, told TOI on Monday. “Each shelter will be able to accommodate at least 40 workers at a given time,” Kumar said, adding that construction of one such shelter in Doranda is underway. The entire project is expected to be completed in three months. “Once ready, the shelters will serve as a place for them to rest or wait,” he said.