Even as State Development Minister Gopal Rai recently held a public meeting with workers and traders at the Azadpur mandi, people working there day and night are far from happy.
Raju Das, a 57-year-old who has been loading and unloading fruits and vegetables in the market for over a decade now, complained of either suffering from injuries or hay fever at least once a month.
“My hands also get bruised at times because I keep handling sacks and cartons. It is worse in the summer. During the monsoon, the conditions worsen as the ground becomes marshy due to open drains and flies. The doctor sits only for a brief period — from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sometimes, the doctor does not even turn up,” he said.
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The Azadpur mandi, touted as Asia’s largest wholesale fruit and vegetable market, has been patiently hearing promises by State governments for decades now. Nearly all of these are yet to turn into reality.
Last year in March, Mr. Rai had assured that five new dispensaries for labourers will be set up in the market. Save for the existing dispensary, work is yet to begin on a single new facility.
On his visit to the mandi this time, the Minister spoke extensively about shifting the market to North-West Delhi’s Tikri Khampur.
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“We went to check the work progress there, but found nothing. Only a road has been built so far, where some trucks were parked. Work on constructing of sheds, drains and open spaces is yet to begin,” said Awadh Narayan, the president of the Sabzi Mandi Mazdoor Union.
On Mr. Rai’s directions to members of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) to constitute a mandi workers’ development organisation for welfare of labourers working at the wholesale market, Mr. Narayan added: “That is yet to happen. We are told it’s in the pipeline.”
When the development department was contacted, an official said work on relocating the market has been expedited. “Moreover, the process of making ID cards for every labourer in the market is also on in full swing. Many workers complained of applying several times but never getting the card owing to issues with either police verification or denial by commissioned wholesale traders for signing their papers,” added the official.
Explaining further, he added: “The traders refrain from signing because if they do, then a labourer will come under their permanent payroll and they wouldn’t be able to fire him at will. This is the most important loophole we are trying to fix at the moment.”