ENGLISH – PROJECT WORK

Name – Stuti Khemani

Class – XII
Section – B
Exam roll no. –
Subject – English
Submitted to – Gitumani Maam
Topic- Interview a construction worker and prepare an
article on their lives, aspirations and present state and
contrast the same with the work they do.

1
 CONTENTS

S NO. CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1 Acknowledgement 3

2 Certificate 4

3 Objective 5

4 Interview 6-7

5 Essay 8-11

6 Reflection 12

7 Gallery 13

8 Bibliography 14

2
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks to my English

teacher, Ms. Gitumani Saikia as well as our principal Mr.
Rajeeb P, who gave me this golden opportunity to do
this wonderful project on the mentioned topic. The
research I did helped me in understanding more about
the people around me.

3
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Stuti Khemani of class XII-B, bearing roll

number of Delhi Public school Guwahati,2024-25 batch,
has successfully completed and submitted this project based on the
exploitation faced by construction workers which is in contrast with
the beauty of the buildings they build under my supervision and
guidance.
The concepts and ideas are original and the project is a bona fide
piece of work carried out under my supervision.
I certify that the project is up to my expectation and as per the
guidelines of CBSE.

4
 OBJECTIVE

The aim of the project is to get to know about the lives

of workers and what are their miseries. The beauty of
products they make are in contrast with their living
conditions. The interview and interaction will help to
give a closer look on their demands, aspirations,
present state, family and from where and how they
came.

5
 INTERVIEW
(The conversation was done in local language but is translated for
convenience.)

1. What is your name?

-Jitendra Kumar
2.Where are you from?
-Migrated from a village in Bihar.
3.What is your age?
-32
4.What have you been doing?
-Right now, I am working in a construction site, building a property
for a private firm.
5.How long have you been here?
-I have been working in Assam for about the past 3 years.
6.So, have you been doing construction for 3 years?
-No initially I was looking to work in a shop but due to linguistic
issues later I was forced to work as labourer in construction sites.
7.What you miss most about Bihar?
-My family
8.How often do you go back?
-Once a year.
9.How much do you earn?
- I am a daily wage worker, per day I earn around Rs 300-400,
depending on availability of labourers.
6
10.What about food and accommodation?
-We spend entire day in the site and prepare our own food in the site
itself. Most of us sleep in tents in the site.

11.How are the relations with the locals?

-We frequently have clashes with local labourers.
12.What about safety measures?
-There is no such thing as safety at construction sites. Slips, trips and
falls are a common sight.
13.Any work security?
-No, one day we have work. The next we are wandering for work and
ending up settling for a low wage work.
14.Prone to any diseases?
-Yes, exposure to welding fumes can cause lung diseases.
15.Do you know basic reading and writing?
-I have studied up to class 4 in a Hindi medium school.
16.Ever faced any kind of discrimination?
-Yes, in initially days my origin and accent were a issue.
17.Are you happy with your job and income?
-No, I will jump on a better offer, because the wages are very low.
Even after working overtime many times, we are not paid extra.
Troublesome sleeping tents. Working in scorching heat is a daily sight
now.

7
 ESSAY BASED ON INTERVIEW

Work in the construction sector is affected by a paradoxical invisibility.

Both familiar due to its close proximity and yet full of mystery for all
those who have never experienced life on a building site, it combines
age-old skills and know-how with ultra-modern technical devices.
Although many building sites are in public places, they are hidden from
view and from control. Above all else, construction employers value
absolute discretion about the working and employment conditions
that allow them to make their profits. The police tend to turn a blind
eye when workers are exposed on building sites to fatal risks because
corners have been cut on preventive measures. Construction
Industries is ‘’labour – intensive’’ which employs around 40 million
people of unorganised sectors in India. Most of construction workers
are from poor families with low or no level of education, migrate to
urban areas from villages in search of work.
From the conversation with Jitendra many struggles of the
construction workers were discussed. One such issue is delayed
payments by the contractors and construction companies which is
often the reason of disputes and protests. Again, Contractor workers
are less paid in comparison to workers of the same skillset employed
in factories. At most of the construction sites, the labour is supplied by
the labour contractor on commission basis ignoring compliance
obligations. Construction workers employed in most of the sites are
not paid any overtime payment. Thus, the problem of low wages is an
unsolved and a significant problem in construction industries.
Moreover, The Indian construction industry predominantly relies on
unskilled and semi-skilled labour. This perpetuates a cycle of low
wages and limited career growth for workers.
The construction sites are often stained red with the extracts of paan
(betel leaf) and tobacco. Most of the construction workers are
8
addicted of Pan, smoking, chewing tobacco, eating Gutkha, drinking
alcohol, cannabis etc. at the time of work which creates indiscipline
and cause major health loss to workers and it is very harmful to the
construction businesses. Most of the times, their quarrelling habit
after drink or addiction cause unrest at the workplace. The health of
construction workers is another issue for Construction workers face
somewhat unique dangers depending on what types of products with
which they may be working. Chronic medical conditions have been
linked to prolonged exposure to certain toxic vapours, gases, fumes,
smoke, paint, or dust. A few of the most common types of
occupational diseases or illnesses include: Asthma, Mesothelioma and
other cancers, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD),
Dermatitis, Musculoskeletal disorders. Occupational contact
dermatitis may be caused by exposure to a variety of agents, including
irritants or sensitizers, physical agents, and biologic agents.
Musculoskeletal disorders include repetitive injuries such as carpal
tunnel syndrome and epicondylitis (tennis elbow), common when
construction workers use their hands and arms for painting, nailing,
and sawing. Asbestos-related injuries are common in construction
workers who are exposed to certain building materials such as
insulation. Because asbestos is considered a carcinogen, it can cause
cancer after repeated exposure.
Safety often takes a backseat in many construction sites across India.
Labourers, staff, and employees are forced to work in hazardous
environments without proper protective gear or safety protocols. This
lack of concern for their well-being not only jeopardises their lives but
also leaves them vulnerable to injuries and health issues. The absence
of social security measures further exacerbates the challenges faced
by labourers, staff, and employees. Many of them are not entitled to
benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, or provident
funds. This lack of support leaves them financially vulnerable in times
of crisis.

9
Female Construction workers face multiple problems due to their
feminine status and are always in danger of physical and financial
exploitation by their male co-workers. There is gender discrimination
at construction sites. They are paid relatively less than a male worker
and no availability of basic facilities/benefits/amenities for female
workers at construction sites, ruin their social respect and legal rights.
The health and safety of female workers are deteriorated due to their
working in life-threatening and unhygienic work environment at
Construction sites. Moreover, their children seeing their mother stay
with them and work with them instead of going to school.
Instances of exploitation and discrimination are sadly common in the
construction industry. Contractual workers are often subjected to
unfair treatment, with limited access to basic facilities and amenities.
Moreover, the industry’s workforce is often divided along lines of class,
caste, and gender, leading to further marginalisation of certain
groups.
Accommodation is an essential aspect of any worker's well-being.
However, construction workers often grapple with substandard living
conditions due to factors like budget constraints, remote job sites, and
the transitory nature of their work. This can have severe repercussions
on their overall health, safety, and job satisfaction. Temporary camps,
also known as labour camps, are a common choice for accommodating
construction workers. These camps typically consist of basic,
prefabricated structures, with several labourers sharing a single living
space. Despite their convenience, temporary camps come with their
own set of challenges. Workers in these camps often face
overcrowding, inadequate sanitation facilities, and limited access to
clean water and healthcare services. Furthermore, the isolation from
urban areas can lead to social and mental health issues.
The buildings we witness are the product of sweat of these workers
whose efforts often go unnoticed. Jitendra firmly believes that people

10
will soon recognise their plight and government measures will actually
be implemented and strictly followed by construction companies. To
conclude, Labourers, staff, and employees deserve dignified working
conditions, fair wages, and access to social security measures. It’s high
time for industry stakeholders, government bodies, and society as a
whole to come together and prioritise the well-being of those who
contribute immensely to building the nation’s future. Only by
addressing these pressing issues can we hope to transform the
construction industry into a more equitable and just sector for all its
workers.

11
 REFLECTION

During processing the project, I developed a

respectful relationship with the workers. Initially, I
observed the site, the people there, where they
live and other conditions. To complete the project
in the given timeline I beforehand collected my
questions. The project helped me to know about
the workers, earlier only the fancy buildings
attracted me but now the pain behind it came to
light. After this project I would like to talk more
about how generally the beauty of products are in
contrast with those who make them.

12
GALLERY

13
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• https://www.getpowerplay.in/
• https://blog.ipleaders.in/
• https://www.linkedin.com/
• https://www.hwcindia.org/
• Newspaper articles
• The times of India blogs
• Construction site workers

14
THANK YOU

15