Godrej Properties has initiated a large-scale mental health support programme for construction workers across its project sites, signalling a shift in how worker welfare is being defined within India’s real estate sector. The initiative, rolled out after a multi-month pilot in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, places psychological wellbeing alongside physical safety in one of the country’s most labour-intensive industries.
The programme will now be implemented across nearly 80 construction sites nationwide, reaching an estimated 30,000 workers employed on residential and mixed-use developments in major urban markets. These include Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad, regions where migrant labour forms the backbone of construction activity. Urban labour experts note that while construction safety standards have improved over the past decade, mental health has remained largely invisible on sites. Long working hours, financial insecurity, isolation from families and limited access to healthcare often combine to create sustained psychological stress, particularly among migrant workers who operate outside formal support systems. The newly launched framework aims to address this gap by embedding mental health services directly into daily site operations. Workers will have access to structured group sessions focused on emotional awareness, confidential one-on-one counselling, and a round-the-clock helpline offering remote support. The services are delivered by trained professionals through an external mental health services provider, ensuring clinical oversight and confidentiality.
According to industry observers, the scale of the rollout is significant in a sector where labour welfare initiatives are often fragmented or short-term. By standardising mental health support across projects, the company is attempting to move beyond compliance-driven approaches towards a more systemic understanding of workforce wellbeing. Insights from the pilot phase conducted in the Mumbai region indicated higher engagement when counselling and awareness sessions were held on-site, reducing stigma and logistical barriers. Participants reportedly showed improved willingness to discuss stress, financial anxiety and family-related concerns issues that typically go unaddressed in construction environments. From a city-making perspective, the move reflects a growing recognition that sustainable urban development depends not only on materials and timelines, but on the wellbeing of the people building cities. Urban planners increasingly argue that humane working conditions contribute to productivity, safer sites and more stable labour ecosystems, particularly as cities pursue denser, redevelopment-led growth. The initiative also aligns with broader ESG conversations shaping India’s real estate sector, where developers are being assessed not just on environmental performance but on social outcomes. Mental health support, experts say, is emerging as a critical but underdeveloped component of social sustainability in construction.
As India’s urban footprint continues to expand, such programmes could influence how labour standards evolve across the industry. Whether similar models are adopted more widely will depend on how developers balance cost, responsibility and long-term workforce resilience in an increasingly complex urban economy.
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