I have not seen the norms, so can’t really comment. From our side, we maintain the basic sanitation and hygiene at the construction site. In the past, the labourers had had to stay on the site only on specific occasions. But we have not encountered any particular abuse of the project land whenever they needed to stay back.

Rohit Gera, Hony Secretary, PBAP and Director (Opns), Gera Developments
I fail to see how pre-fabricated houses will assist in environmental protection. The environment is degraded by hundreds of different channels. Any legislation in this regard address the major contributors first and then make its way down the list. Having said that, there is a need to have norms for workers’ housing from the perspective of safety as well as providing them with humane and hygienic living conditions."

Col Prithvinath, Executive VP, National Real Estate Development Council
Although we haven’t got the full report till now, we support the move totally. Of course it would add to the cost of construction but this has to be accepted from the perspective of welfare. Hence as an industry, we fully completely support the move. It’s a good move.

MC Mehta (Supreme Court Advocate)
Builders are like colonizers who bring in labour from other states. It is their responsibility to provide housing facility to them, failing which these people are compelled to live in jhuggis in the most unhygienic conditions. In this case the builders are at fault. Don’t the labourers have any right to live in a more humane atmosphere? But I also think that the contractors should be held equally responsible. This is a joint responsibility of the contractors, builders and the government.

Rahul Todi, MD, Bengal Shrachi Housing Development Ltd
Currently, all construction sites have provisions for residential arrangements for labourers. However, they are temporary in nature and do not provide hygienic facilities.
I would welcome legislation, which ensures that all projects should provide better hygienic conditions. However, one should be careful that the same legislation is not applicable in smaller projects, which are constructed within the city areas.

Pradeep Joe, VP, Bangalore Realtors Association of India
It should become mandatory for the government to create a fund for the construction labourer for allowing them the benefits of medical and education facilities. For this purpose, a percentage by way of taxes should be charged. This should be first put on to the developer who in turn will pass it on to the property buyer. The fund should be created along with the participation of the government.
The money thus collected should take care of the medical and educational requirements of the workers’ children. Since this is completely an unorganised sector, it could go long way in helping them (labourers) to get better facilities. Maybe their next generation can see a better light.

George E Geroge, Director, Infra Housing Pvt Ltd
In Kerala, we are having our local labourers for construction work. We provide them with basic facilities, including toilets at all our construction sites for these labourers to use. Since they come in the morning and live the construction site by evening to their own home, there is no question for the need of providing facilities for the construction labourers. These might be applicable in places where they hire labourers from outside their city or State. Builders don’t want their construction sites to be damaged in any manner. Hence, we are already providing the required basic facilities to them.