As many as 41 lives were at risk after a portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand last month. With each passing day, there was panic and all eyes were glued to even the smallest development in the rescue work.
The incident took place on November 12. Within the next few days, global experts, big machineries and various government agencies were roped in. Almost two weeks passed and several nearly successful attempts were also made but to no avail. It was then that a 12-member team of rat-hole mining experts was called in for manual drilling.
These men, mostly daily wagers, became heroes after they successfully rescued the 41 workers on November 28. The nation cheered and celebrated their success and the rescue of the workers.
However, as the din dies down, these common faces of the country are still waiting to be rescued from poverty.
Speaking to News18, 45-year-old Vakeel Hassan said since they have returned from the rescue operation, they are being invited to events almost every day to celebrate their success, but, after every celebration, they are back to the life they were living.
A father of three, Hassan has been working as a contractor and a worker for over 10 years across the country, including with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
Hassan’s job involves regular digging and it was he who finished the last leg of the rescue mission.
“We are getting a lot of respect. People are recognising us. But if you ask us if this incident has changed anything in our standard of living, then no. Financially, we have not improved even a bit… We are temporary heroes and people will forget us very soon. You will find us digging the soil again after some time… We put all our efforts for the country’s reputation but what are we getting in return?” he wondered.
Hassan, who has studied till Class 9, added that the reaction of their family was rewarding but, eventually, money is needed to fulfil all demands.
Another rescuer, 33-year-old Munna Qureshi, said celebrations have become a daily affair since they rescued the workers. “We are getting respect. It is nice. But we were zero yesterday and will be zero tomorrow. As long as people are celebrating us, it is good. After that, we will go back to our usual life as labourers.”
Qureshi, a single parent of three, lost his wife in the Covid-19 pandemic. When asked how he learnt the work, he said labourers always learn the job on the go.
“I have been working since the last 13 years. But I could not afford to send my children to a good school. Officially, we have not received any money from the government though we got some money from other people,” he said.
Qureshi also said they are happy with the love and respect they are getting but there is nothing he can leave behind for his children.
“I live in a small rented house. It costs me Rs 3,000. We hardly make Rs 15,000 per month. What improvement can you expect in life when you get this amount? Our lives were at equal risk while we were rescuing the 41 workers,” he said.
One of the workers, who did not wish to be named, said while players are given lakhs and crores by governments if they win any medal, daily wagers like them are often forgotten.
“We are still waiting for anything from any government… the major credit was given to political leaders. No doubt they have done their part but it is us who did executed the risky part. It is being shown everywhere that governments are taking care of us but there is no improvement in our condition,” he added.
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