In Tirupati, sky is the roof for thousands

TIRUPATI: The sweeping cold wave has put many people, particularly construction workers, to serious hardship.It is only ironical that those who build homes for others have to spend sleepless nights in the open in biting cold.Adding to their woes are questioning policemen and harassment from miscreants.A large number unskilled workers who have come to the pilgrim town in search of a living spend their nights in front of shops after they are closed.Their options are very narrow; the other places that they could go are temples, the bus station, railway station, government hospitals and pavements because there are no night shelters in the town.Not only construction labourers but those who work in small shops and eateries, petty traders from other places coming here for business, runaway children and rag pickers also spend their nights without shelter.Stating that the condition of shelterless workers is pathetic, a CITU leader underlined the urgent need for construction of night shelters.There is no dearth of funds as the government could utilise the AP Building and Other Construction Workers Federation welfare fund which is swelling as the authorities concerned are unable to spend it for the good of workers.MP Chinta Mohan said he was ready to arrange funds from government and also impress the TTD to do its bit if suitable land is provided for the construction night shelters, which are direly needed.Tirupati being a pilgrim centre should show the way for others in this regard, he said and urged the officials concerned to respond immediately.REALITY BITESSubbaiah, migrant from Kadiri I have been sleeping on the pavement at Nalugukalamantapam for the last five years whether it is summer or winter.I return from work and wait for the shops to close.I leave in the morning before the shop owner comes.I wash up at the public toilet complex.Krishna, labour contractor There must be about 7,000 shelterless construction workers in Tirupati.They are mainly drought-hit farm labourers, and small and marginal farmers from Anantapur, Kadapa, Mahaboobnagar.They come here to work as coolies.They cannot afford any sort of accommodation.Because they need these coolies, some land owners provide makeshift accommodation for them at night.This helps only a few.The majority still spend their nights on the streets.10 Yrs without shelterThe story of Ramanjaneyulu from Rajampet, a tea stall worker, sums up the condition of the shelterless in Tirupati.Due to compelling reasons, he left his village for Tirupati 10 years ago.During day time, he works at the tea stall.After it is closed, he sleeps in front of a shop opposite his tea stall.He befriended the workers of a lodge next his ‘night dwelling’ so that they come to his rescue when police come questioning and also for daily chores like bathing etc.