advertisement
Barely 4 kilometeres away from the ill-fated factory in Delhi’s Bawana, where 17 people died in a fire on 20th January, residents of an entire colony mourn the loss of their loved ones. When one reaches Metro Vihar B-Block – home to the migrant labourers who work in Bawana’s factories – it’s hard to miss the sound of men and women wailing, still unable to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
Kiran Devi, 42, is inconsolable after losing her 41-year-old sister, Baby, who had been working at the unit for five years. Kiran recollects that Baby complained about the working conditions time and again and had no option but to continue as she was the sole breadwinner for a family of four.
Despite being on leave on 20 January (Saturday), Baby left for work by 9:30 am. She told her sister that working on Saturday meant earning Rs 200 in addition to the Rs 200 wage daily and if she refused work, the owner would deduct her wage from a weekday shift.
Eighteen-year-old Chanchal Kumari escaped death by an inch in the same inferno. Only because she and two other women, including her sister-in-law, protested the toxic environment inside the unit and left over half an hour before the ill-fated fire.
Chanchal didn’t know what was it that she and her colleagues were working with, she says she received no information from the owners or supervisor since it was her first and last day at the unit. She and her two other colleagues however, took their Rs 200 payment and left the factory by 5:30 pm.
Deepu Kumar, 19, alleges that his 17-year-old sister, who had been working at the factory for just about 45 days, would have survived had she not been forced to work a double shift.
Seventeen-year-old Rita Kumari was supposed to have left the factory by 5 pm but unfortunately, she was made to work a double shift on 20th January as well.
Forty-five-year-old Asha Sharma, who lives in the building next to the factory, raised an alarm immediately after the fire broke out at 6:30 pm.
None of the family members were aware that the workers were handling firecrackers inside the factory, despite the lack of licence for the same. Most of the workers too were unaware of this and believed, they were working with plastic and chemical colours only.
The Delhi police have now arrested Manoj Jain, who had allegedly taken the factory unit on lease and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has promised Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased. However, most are still shaken and uncertain about their safety as they work in the many factories of Bawana.
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at lettertoindia@thequint.com. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)