Deaths in manholes: Will they ever end?
The ones who assured to make ‘Bharat’ a global leader at almost at the end of their term. In the next few months, well face Lok Sabha elections. By now it's pretty evident as to what people who accused others of having ruined the country for the last seventy years, have been able to achieve. The beneficiaries of their 'acche din’ are now known to everyone. The poor never stood a chance for good life. 'Digital India' still has people getting into manholes and dying a gory inhuman death. One more worker died in a manhole in the national capital Delhi few days ago. Every time a death like this occurs the government Assurance people that such incidents will never repeat in the future.
We cannot expect our prime minister to respond to such deaths. He had once written a glorious tribute to such jobs. About 123 people have died since January 2017 till date across the country. Government never thinks this is undignifying to the country's image. The ministers concerned shed a few crocodile tears before the media cameras, announce some relief, utter some assurances and forget all about that till another such death happens. But none of the assurances have materialised so far. Over 60 people have died in manholes in Karnataka from 2008. Among this, 28 deaths occurred in the capital city of Bengaluru. Government behaves irresponsibly about the deaths that should put is civil society to utter shame.
Announcing relief does not absolve the government of its moral responsibility. Facilitating the process of men getting into manhole itself is a crime. High courts and Supreme court have often chided the governments for this inhuman act still being practised. But this practice continues unabated. There are directions that specifically state manholes have to be cleaned using machines. The cleaning staff have to be given gumboots, masks and gloves. only under exceptionally inevitable circumstances should the cleaners be allowed to clean the manholes with all precautionary measures put in place.
But hardly any of these instructions are followed ever. Manholes have high quantity of Methane and carbon monoxide which are Lethal gases. A hole has to be left with its lid open for about an hour before someone gets into it. With all the precautionary measures in place, the person who gets into it has to smear his body with generous amounts of coconut oil. But none of these are ever followed. Just like our soldiers who guard our borders, our paurakarmikas go down the drain for us sometimes never to come back. A life is lost to keep the drains working, and the cities clean and beautiful. They should also be considered as Martyrs on par with the soldiers and the relief should match accordingly. The ones who force them to go down the drain should be punished severely.
The government should not play around with the lives of underprivileged people. There are only few instances where the people responsible for his death booked but mostly they go unpunished or would be let off later. The contractors and officers lead a life that are affected by these deaths. We must remember please precious lives lost our dent on India's image. They have never affected those who are polarising the country in the name of religion. The country has to bring complete ban on men being forced to go down the drain. if this cannot be done the elected representatives themselves should volunteer to get into the manholes to keep them clean. In a book written in 2008, Prime Minister Modi had said paurakarmikas must be getting a spiritual feeling to be doing their jobs. In a graded society, paurakarmikas who belong to the lowest strata are getting to experience spiritual awakening. That's not fair. All people across the social strata, including the upper caste ones should experience this spiritual feeling of getting into a manhole. Please suit yourselves on this.
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India moving towards becoming global economic powerhouse: Kovind
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Amritsar (PTI): Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that with digital transformation, economic reforms and a strong focus on the ease of doing business, India is moving towards becoming a global economic powerhouse.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 19th edition of the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) in Amritsar.
The former president said that this 19th edition of PITEX is being organised at a time when India is recognised as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) the former president, while referring to Punjab, said the state is a living example of courage, sacrifice and enterprise.
"The spiritual light of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) inspires peace and humanity across the world. The heritage of Punjab is deep and inspiring," Kovind said, according to a statement issued by the PITEX.
The former president congratulated the PHDCCI for hosting the 19th edition of PITEX and suggested that the chamber should expand PITEX outside Punjab.
He proposed that a similar event should also be held in New Delhi.
