Now, human rights activists cry foul

Alleging gross human rights violations, activists on Thursday said the Commonwealth Games should either be called off or shifted to another venue. HT reports.

Alleging gross human rights violations, activists on Thursday said the Commonwealth Games should either be called off or shifted to another venue.

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Shashi Saxena of Peoples Union For Democratic Rights (PUDR) said rights of labourers were being violated at various construction sites.

"Inspite of the Supreme Court judgement after Asiad Games '82 , workers are being paid only two-third of the minimum wages. The mode of payment is arbitrary and they are not even issued any pay slips. Since there are no records, the workers cannot claim the rest of their wages, which the contractors keep it for themselves," Saxena said.

She said women were being discriminated against and they were paid less than men and in some places not even employed.

The PUDR had filed a petition early this year in the High Court after which the court ordered that a committee be formed. The committee found the findings of PUDR to be true and submitted some suggestions but nothing has changed since then, said Saxena.

The activists alleged slums were demolished and families were forcefully evicted to build infrastructure for the Games.

"Around 2,000 jhuggies (slums) in Badli were mowed down and 3,000 families were removed around the Games village and Akshardham area. The government has identified 44 more slum clusters that will be relocated before the Games," said Jawahar Singh of Jhuggi Jhopdi Ekta Manch. He said the families are relocated to unhygienic areas.

"The Games should be called off or shifted to another venue," said Miloon Kothari, Executive Director, Housing and Land Rights Network.