After seven years, it was necessary to retile the roof of our barn, which is where Anna and I have stored all our work related documents fo the last thirty five years. It also houses the documents related to the of ASHIRVAD. With the monsoon anticipated on time this year, we wanted to prepare the roof form leaking.
It is not easy to find artisans who are used to working on roofs fifty or more years old. As it is neatly nailed roof of wooden railings with tiles spread on them, one has to be familiar to do it.
What fascinated me was the way the tiles were transferred to a height of 20 feet. One would throw them to the top and the other would catch them. During the tow days, at least 1500 taels were thrown up like this. No tile slipped and fell down. It was truly what one would find in the trapeze when the flier would release himself form the the trapeze and fly towards the catcher, who would catch him in the air.
I spent most of the three days when they were working on three roofs, to watch and admire the craftsmanship and artistic skills with which they did the wood work and roof laying. The day temperature was 38 degree celsius, but did not deter them from doing their work with diligence and precision.
These are craftsmen with no regular income, state supported health insurance, pension or any special benefits as they work in non-organised sector. About forty precent of our labour force in India work in this sector. They are disadvantaged during stressful times. The four workers had worked only for five days during the last one month of 'stay at home' order to arrest the spread corona infection in the community.
Life has many existential challenges for those who are less privileged. Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation once said, 'Think of the least among us, when we make any plans in society'!
It is the opposite we seem to do. The migrant workers had to stay in make shift camps for one month before they were allowed to go back home during this week in special trains. The government of Kerala refers to them as 'gust workers' and offered to pay for their rail fare to return home. The 600,000 or more of them who live and work in Kerala run the industry, farm, restaurants, and construction work.
It is their absence now, which would make us realise how much we need them for the economy to revive!
All of us who are skilled workers cannot function without them in our work situations!
And yet, the unskilled workers are at the receiving end as our public policy is heavily tilted towards the advantage of rest of us.
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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