Pahin with his wife and two sons. (Morung Photo)
Limasenla Jamir
Mokokchung | October 21
Construction workers constitute a huge chunk of migrant workers in Nagaland. Unfortunately, they are a statistically invisible section of the worker population in the state.
Like many districts in Nagaland, majority of the construction workers in Mokokchung comprises of non-local workers who have migrated from various parts of the country. It is interesting to note that during the past ten years, the district has seen a surge of construction workers, most of whom are internal migrants from the eastern region of Nagaland.
According to Yangtsumong, President, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization, Mokokchung, majority of its members are engaged in the construction sector especially in building construction, automobile workshops, and stone quarries. Many of the workers have migrated from their villages and hometowns in search for employment opportunities and have settled in Mokokchung.
One such worker is Pahin, who came to Mokokchung in 2003 from Noku village, Noklak district and belongs to the Khiamniungan community. Pahin is a highly skilled construction worker whose expertise is in constructing buildings, painting houses and plumbing.
Sitting by the fireplace in his small kitchen, Pahin narrates how he became a skilled construction worker. "My house owner Tako and a thikadar Jogi Ram from Bihar taught me how to use cement and bricks. I used to work for them after class while I was still in school for a meager 75–150 rupees each day. After passing class 8, I stopped attending school and began working with Narayan, who taught me how to work with tiles,” Pahin recalled with sincere thanks. He continued, “I learned to paint through working with Bengali workers for four years.”
Pahin is now a skilled construction worker but he is yet to register himself as one in the government portals. “Pahin is no longer a daily wage earner. Because of his skills and quality of his work, people trust him and people now hire him and give him charge to build an entire house,” said Yangtsumong validating Pahin’s work.
According to Pahin, if we do not work, we do not get paid. He claims that being jobless is scary because he has two sons who are 8 and 9 years old. Pahin sends his sons to Jubilee Memorial School. “I was unable to finish my studies, but I am determined that my sons will have the best education possible,” he stated.
While talking about the dangers of engaging oneself in the construction sector, Pahin recalled a time when he fell from a three-storey building while painting. “I fell flat on the ground and stayed unconscious for few minutes but thankfully I gained my consciousness, and nothing serious happened to me,” he narrated.
“What that fall made me realize was that if anything happens to me, my wife and my sons will be left with nothing. I have encountered many accidents where many of my friends got seriously hurt and in many cases I have also taken them to the hospital.”
“I try to be extra careful, and I make sure that I always tie a rope around my waist when I am working in high places,” he adds. “The problem in our town is that apart from gloves and shoes, there are no safety tools and equipment available in shops. You know, I even used a scooter helmet to protect myself while working.”
Much like Pahin, safety remains a major concern for other workers in the state. Protecting construction workers from injuries should be the primary responsibility of construction companies and owners. The risk involved is extremely high and therefore measures should be taken to safeguard the workers. However, truly little to none is done for the protection of the workers.
Apart from safety dangers and accidents, Pahin also talks about other problems faced as a migrant worker. Pahin explained about cases where he was paid lesser than the non-local worker. “The problem with working with local people is that they pay us less. While a non-local worker from Bihar or UP gets Rs 2000 for a job done, they will pay us Rs 1500-1000 after a long bargain.”
Additionally, Pahin discloses the issue of client non-payment with great reluctance. “I have not been paid for my job in many cases. I have completed a ten room building investing months to complete it, but I haven’t been paid yet.I keep reminding them, but they don't seem to care.”
Though faced with many hardships in the construction sector Pahin sits content at home with his wife and two kids. He has established himself in the local construction industry and has won the confidence of a large number of people.
Pahin has been living in Mokokchung for the past 19 years now, enduring a lot of hardship to reach where he is now. At 36 years of age, his biggest fear is not getting enough work to sustain his family. “I am out of job these days as I am waiting for cement to dry in one of the building I am constructing. Since I don’t have any work I am out helping friends and neighbours, but I am hoping there are not many days when I am out of work.”
Pahin very shyly talked about how he met his wife and how he got married when he was 26 years old. His wife runs a small shop which is attached to their kitchen. Even though Pahin is far from his village and his home, he is glad and happy to have made a home for himself and his family away from home.
This is the third of a five-part series highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by the construction industry in Nagaland, as part of the Kohima Press Club and Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Media Fellowship.
