Realty developers provide food and assistance to construction workers

MUMBAI | BENGALURU | NEW DELHI: Realty developers are providing food, hygiene products and medical assistance to the construction workers who have chosen to stay back at the project sites, following the directives from their industry bodies.

Developers are also ensuring that workers stay put at the sites and don’t leave for their hometowns or villages due to hardships, thus mitigating the number of migrants crowding home after they lost their informal sector jobs. Builders fear that getting them back to construction site will be a tough challenge once they leave.

“These relief measures will help getting the sector get back on its feet when the lockdown ends. Our concern presently is to ensure that their families are safe and that they have adequate food and funds in this hour,” said Rajiv Talwar, CEO & whole-time director, DLF.


DLF is ensuring distribution of over 27 lakh meals to slum dwellers and stranded migrant workers in Manesar, Gurugram, Noida and Delhi.

In Mumbai, Lodha Developers has started free food centres at Gamdevi, Thane, Palava and Vasai providing lunch and dinner besides supporting workers at its sites. Sunteck Realty that has over 2,000 workers at its sites also has an emergency fund for them to combat any unwarranted circumstances. Another big builder, Oberoi Realty is also providing food and accommodation facilities to its workers.

In Bengaluru, Salarpuria Sattva is handing out dry grains and 1,500 food packets everyday to migrant labourers and has set up a make-shift kitchen in one of its premises in Bengaluru.

“ With the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 and announcement of 21 day lockdown by the Govt., income opportunities for people below the poverty line have stalled. We have pledge to help the marginalized section and provide them food till the situation demands. This is our humble effort to help the people in distress,” said Bijay Agarwal MD Salarpuria Sattva Group.

Prestige Group is providing meals and provisions to over 10,000 workers and underprivileged children daily. In addition, they are providing the same to all the daily wagers at their labour colonies across India.

“ At a time of unprecedented crisis like this, we, the real estate developers’ community, have to take responsibility for all our people. After all, it is a symbiotic relationship - we are as dependent on them, as they are on us,” Irfan Razak CMD Prestige Group.

Shriram Properties have taken measures to safe guard around 5,000 construction workers and families by providing shelter, food and medical care during the national lockdown. It is distributing 1 lakh food packets daily.

“ Blue collared workforce being one of the largest affected segment, it is very important for private sector companies to step in and contribute towards nation’s fight against Covid 19 by protecting these workers. As the real sector employs a major chunk of migrant-blue collar workforce, it is the sector’s responsibility to take care of these workers during these difficult times,” said Murali Malayappan CMD Shriram Properties.

Developers’ body NAREDCO, on Thursday, urged the government to allow construction activity on sites with safety measures and lift the lockdown on such activities to avoid delivery delays and business losses.

According to NAREDCO, instead of keeping workers that are largely still at sites in a lockdown situation, giving them some activity will keep them be occupied and also push project completion and help avoid economic losses.