They struggled to approach the authorities as they don’t know Tamil.
"We went to the police commissioner’s office to complain, but it was a futile
attempt. Later, we tried meeting the sub-contractor who threatened and warned us
against approaching the police or media," said Sunil.
He added that he has a 17-month-old child, a wife and parents to feed in Uttar
Pradesh.
"Life has been difficult since the lockdown. We came hoping to send money home.
What are they going to do with a poor man’s wages? We are just asking to be paid
for the work we did," Sunil asserted.
With hardly any cash in hand, the workers have also been struggling to get food.
"We eat just once a day. At times, we get hungry but have no option," says Guddu
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Kumar, from Gaya in Bihar.
When The New Indian Express reached out to one Jayesh, whom the workers said is
part of the management of the sub-contractor, he said they had given the money to
the previous sub-contractor.
When contacted, the previous subcontractor, Joginder, refuted the allegation.
Later, Jayesh said the payment is due for December and January. A project manager
of Gayathri Constructions, Nirmal Kumar, said the workers approached him a week
ago and he promised to resolve their issue.
"The salary of only one worker is pending for one month, and another worker has
to receive Rs 7,000 for the month of November. For six other workers, we have to
pay the salaries for only December and January," Kumar said.
However, the workers had a different tale to tell.
Sunil alleged he asked the sub-contractor in December for his pending salary, and
was threatened.
"We don’t have hope. Nirmal asked us for a list of people who didn’t get the salaries
by 6 pm. He claimed the salaries will be given by 9 pm on Monday. When we said
that others who left for their native places also didn’t get paid, he brushed it
aside," said Sunil.