Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to require builders and developers to provide crèche facilities for the children of construction workers at their sites.
The GHMC made this decision after noticing that the children of construction workers are more at risk of being bitten by stray dogs.
On Thursday, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali Kata instructed the Town Planning wing to include a new condition in building permits. This condition mandates that any building site with 50 or more employees must have a crèche facility, in line with the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017. The goal is to prevent dog-bite incidents near construction sites.
According to an official statement, a review of recent dog-bite cases showed that children of construction workers are particularly vulnerable. This is because both parents usually work, leaving the child alone in a tent or temporary shelter.
The presence of food waste near these shelters tends to attract street dogs, which increases the chances of dog bites occurring at construction sites.
The GHMC referred to Section 11A(1) of the Maternity Benefit Act, which requires that any establishment with 50 or more employees must have a nearby crèche facility, either individually or as part of shared facilities.
In addition, the Town Planning staff has been instructed to raise awareness among builders and developers of previously approved projects about the need for crèche facilities in compliance with the Act.
