Cyclone a blessing for jobless labourers in West Bengal
Civic authorities employ local manpower for restoration work
Cyclone Amphan has wreaked havoc in large parts of West Bengal and affected millions of people, but it has also opened up livelihood opportunities for electricians and daily wagers sitting idle for more than two months due to the virus-induced lockdown.
With a shortage of manpower to clear uprooted trees and restore power supply, civic authorities in several affected areas have employed the labourers and electricians for restoration work.
“Although it is the job of the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) to restore power supply, wires are lying everywhere so we needed the help of local electricians to safely remove them,” a councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said.
Manoj Sarangi, a daily wager who used to work in a sawmill, has been jobless since the imposition of the lockdown.
He has now been engaged by the South Dum Dum municipality for restoration work and is being paid Rs250 every day.
“I didn’t have a job for the last two months and have spent all my savings. This work of removing uprooted trees has saved my family,” he said.
The civic body has employed 100 labourers like Sarangi for the restoration work.
For electrician Sajal Das too, the cyclone has come as a blessing in disguise. After remaining jobless for two months, his hands are now full.
Frequent calls
“Earlier, I used to earn Rs500 per day but my earning came to a grinding halt due to the lockdown. But since May 22, two days after the cyclone struck West Bengal, my phone has not stopped ringing,” he said.
“Every day, I am getting calls from people asking me to repair their water pumps or mend electric wires,” he added.