ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 9 February 2013 28 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5605 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY 8 Violence mars funeral of Tunisian leader 10 Abu Sayyaf splits into ALL WORK, smaller groups 14 European Union agrees historic NO PLAY budget deal THE ISSUE 20 ‘Sprint King’ conquers National sports clubs should set up and a vast majority of them were unmarried large sections of our population can make them Abraham Augusthy Qatar field in style branches in the Industrial Area and and full of energy. “So it must be made sure vulnerable to crime. They can be a challenge that they are engaged socially,” she said. to social security.” Design: other localities where low-income It was important, therefore, to provide them This section of population feels socially mar- foreign workers live, to channelise entertainment and sporting facilities, partic- ginalised, so there is a need to make them their energy to productive avenues ularly during the weekends. “Unfortunately, feel that they are part of the community and what we have in the Industrial Area are only the social mainstream. “They should not be and hunt for sporting talent, says exchange houses and grocery stores. There are allowed to drift away to the social fringes,” Al a prominent Qatari sociologist, hardly any entertainment facilities.” Ghanem said. stressing that this vast section “Where do these workers go in their free Community police, charitable bodies and the Salim Matramkot time? During the weekends their entry to Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs should Pic: of the population should not be public parks, malls and the hypermarkets is come forward and make sure that they include socially marginalised. restricted, so where do you think they could this group in their gamut of activities, she said. go during the weekends?” “If nothing, events can be organised in the National sports clubs should build stadiums areas they live in so as to keep them engaged in f you let them (low-income foreign in areas where low-income workers live, and socially productive activities,” said the sociolo- workers) live on the social fringes, engage them in sporting activities to chan- gist. “They need to feel secure. We must treat the danger is they would take to nelise their energy to productive avenues. them like any other organ of our society.” “Iillegal activities and emerge as a “That would also help us hunt for sporting The government has shifted these workers threat to social security,” said Dr Kulthum talent from among them,” Al Ghanem said. from residential areas to the Industrial Area, Ali Al Ghanem. Unfortunately, low-income workers are so it must also provide the necessary enter- PAGEA sociologist who6 teaches at Qatar not part of the National Strategy for Social tainment and sporting facilities to them, Al University, Al Ghanem told this newspaper Security (2011-16), which is part of Qatar Ghanem added. yesterday that low-income workers were young National Vision 2030, she said. “Isolating these See also page 2 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 FEBRUARY 9, 2013 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Looking for a place to unwind Lack of entertainment facilities makes life dull for single workers BY FAZEENA SALEEM & RAYNALD C RIVERA “Many residents in Industrial it opens soon and they have rea- Area work in the construction sec- sonable prices. With a salary of tor,” said Abner, adding that he, QR1,500, I can’t afford to go to hile all eyes are on along with many other Filipinos expensive places,” said Raju Bikash, preparations for living there, had to find ways to who works in the Industrial Area. the 2022 football while away time and fight bore- “We are away from our families. WWorld Cup, with a dom, such as organising basketball After working the whole week, we staggering budget allocation for tournaments. would also like to enjoy our free development of infrastructure and Many of them, he said, had to day,” he added. tourism, single workers, who make save money to buy laptops to com- The complex is strategi- up a large part of the country’s municate with their families back cally located in the east zone of population, are being neglected, home and entertain themselves. Industrial Area. Since it is close with no entertainment facilities “The company does not provide to the main roads leading to Doha, for them. an Internet connection, so we have single workers from other places Making up a third of the coun- to chip in to avail of Wi-fi,” added can easily reach the area. try’s population, single workers are Abner. Within the complex, roads left with nowhere to go on Fridays, Going to Doha to spend their have been paved and lit up, mak- Pics: Qassim Rahmatullah & Salim Matramkot the only days they can relax after day off is a challenge for many sin- ing it pedestrian-friendly. There a week’s work. gle low-income workers living on is ample parking space near the The Industrial Area, where at the outskirts of the city. theatres, stadium and shopping least 100,000 single workers are “Many of the parks are limited centres. housed, and whose population is to families during weekends, so we Cricket being one of the most swelling as more and more labour have nowhere to go,” said Raj, a popular sports among the large camps are relocated there, offers labourer involved in the construc- number of Asian workers here, the no facilities where these workers tion of a big shopping mall, which stadium being built is big enough can spend their day off. he thinks he would never be able to accommodate thousands of The absence of entertain- to enter once it is completed. spectators. ment facilities forces residents of “Malls impose ‘family day’ dur- Once it opens, the facility will Industrial Area to come to Doha ing the weekend, the only day for help reduce the influx of single to spend their weekends, when the us to spend time with our friends,” workers into the city on weekends, city witnesses a huge rush of peo- he said, adding that there should especially after the ban on housing ple; the Al Ghanim bus terminus, be malls, parks or other places single workers in residential areas Grand Hamad Street and places exclusively for single workers. is fully implemented. nearby are swarming with single It is almost a year since a new The project is also expected to workers meeting up with friends. commercial and entertainment boost business in the area. The area also turns into a hub complex for single workers was THE PENINSULA of hawkers selling pirated CDs of said to be near completion in the movies, among other things. While Industrial Area, but it is yet to see the authorities have conducted the light of day. raids in the area, the business The project, the first of its kind thrives, which is not surprising for single workers in the country, since the cheap CDs are a major was designed and planned accord- source of entertainment for low- ing to the needs of this section of Women workers more constrained income workers in the absence of the population. Along with sport- cinemas in the Industrial Area and ing, recreational, entertainment the city’s outskirts. and commercial facilities, the BY AZMAT HAROON social conduct, especially if you were not Ayesha said that although banks A cinema in the Industrial Area complex would house a cricket brought up in the Middle East,” she said. here had always had qualified female closed down many years ago and stadium, it is said. ike their male counterparts, It was during her second year in professionals, in the past they were is now being used as storage facil- When it opens, the complex many young, single women come Qatar that she came to know of some either limited in number or confined ity. Low-income single workers, would have four cinema halls, to Qatar in search of better restaurants and clubs, where she goes to a particular department in a bank. especially Nepalese, conduct pri- space for some 385 commercial Lopportunities. with her friends whenever she can. “I think many banks prefer to hire vate film viewings in small ven- outlets including eateries, and an Whether they are here to pursue “Qatar also has some very beautiful women who are already living in ues, making money out of people’s open air theatre where concerts, their career goals or to support their beaches. I like to go there every once in Qatar,” she said. thirst for movies from back home. cultural shows, gatherings and families, going out to have ‘fun’ is not a while,” she added. Getting employment visas for single “I always look forward to other activities can be hosted. only the least of their concerns, it is also Many teachers living in accommodation women can be difficult for companies. Fridays to come to Doha because “It’s good if they complete it a challenge for some. provided by their school say they do not Ayesha said this depended on the the Industrial Area is a very bor- soon, so we will also have all facili- The parks and beaches of Qatar are have easy access to transportation. At nationality of the woman being hired. ing place. No malls, parks, cin- ties and entertainment like other among the preferred destinations of best, they have to rely on taxis, which can Single women working here as maids emas… nothing. If I don’t come people,” said Mohamed Hasan, a single working women on their days be hard to find.