What a Job !!
Hyderabad is a city that is growing exponentially every day. The movement of unskilled labourers from local villages to the city is growing faster than the city itself. They are on the search for money and a better life for themselves and their family.
The basic rate for ladies doing labouring tasks such as sweeping roads, collecting rubbish, moving dirt on construction sites etc is 450 rupees a day for 8 hours labour. ($8.60 AUD)
Men earn 600 rupees ($11.50 AUD) for the same work hours.
Yesterday, we saw two ladies sweeping the roads with a broom made of bamboo reeds - moving gravel from one pothole to another. They would do this all day every day.
The pollution is horrendous as they work in congested roads near massive building sites. They work in such dangerous conditions as cars, tuk tuks, bikes and trucks dodge them constantly. How can this be a better life than living in a village growing your own vegetables with little to no air pollution?
Only last week, I read a story of 2 children being crushed to death when a pillar collapsed on them in a nearby community currently being constructed. The girls were sisters, aged 6 and 3. They were playing alone while their parents were at work as labourers on the nearby construction site. They lived onsite in 'temporary accomodation' - a shanty shack, and they were playing under a verandah of a villa when it collapsed killing them both. The family had recently moved to Hyderabad and the children looked after themselves as their parents worked as labourers.
Stories like this happen every day, as hoards of people move from other states and remote villages to find work. Nabi was telling me that the banks will not loan to people from the smaller villages because they do not have a 'job', so the people believe that by coming to the big cities and getting a 'government paying job', however menial, will help them get a loan to rent somewhere, and live better. The question is, 'is this better' ? I suppose it’s encouragement for children to stay in school and work hard at their studies?
The basic rate for ladies doing labouring tasks such as sweeping roads, collecting rubbish, moving dirt on construction sites etc is 450 rupees a day for 8 hours labour. ($8.60 AUD)
Men earn 600 rupees ($11.50 AUD) for the same work hours.
Yesterday, we saw two ladies sweeping the roads with a broom made of bamboo reeds - moving gravel from one pothole to another. They would do this all day every day.
The pollution is horrendous as they work in congested roads near massive building sites. They work in such dangerous conditions as cars, tuk tuks, bikes and trucks dodge them constantly. How can this be a better life than living in a village growing your own vegetables with little to no air pollution?
Only last week, I read a story of 2 children being crushed to death when a pillar collapsed on them in a nearby community currently being constructed. The girls were sisters, aged 6 and 3. They were playing alone while their parents were at work as labourers on the nearby construction site. They lived onsite in 'temporary accomodation' - a shanty shack, and they were playing under a verandah of a villa when it collapsed killing them both. The family had recently moved to Hyderabad and the children looked after themselves as their parents worked as labourers.
Stories like this happen every day, as hoards of people move from other states and remote villages to find work. Nabi was telling me that the banks will not loan to people from the smaller villages because they do not have a 'job', so the people believe that by coming to the big cities and getting a 'government paying job', however menial, will help them get a loan to rent somewhere, and live better. The question is, 'is this better' ? I suppose it’s encouragement for children to stay in school and work hard at their studies?
This hole is part of the new overpass construction and the labourers empty it daily with a small bucket - it fills with both liquid and solid waste - urgh!!!
These are the ladies sweeping the road
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