It was still very early in the morning and I was not fully awake on the drive to the airport. Thus when I saw a huge cloud of smoke I dismissed it initially, but the accompanying fat bright orange flames, leaping into the air, jolted me into a state of total awareness. It was difficult to judge from a distance whether the fire had emerged from a construction site or the adjacent slum; but it was relatively easy to gauge that the extent of damage to life and property was extensive. “Maara gaya bechara gareeb” (The helpless and the poor have died), said the driver and drove on; but my mind stopped at that statement. In the city of Mumbai, life comes cheap and especially of those without any means. But just because there is such abundance of life in the country, does it mean that it can be dispensed with easily?
The November 26 attacks of Mumbai created a furore in the city. There was public outcry for a special armed force to be created for the protection of Mumbai; after all, the city has suffered numerous terrorist attacks in the last few years. I was among those who became a part of one such movement, a group that silently but visibly (with black arm bands tied through out the day) declared that we would not rest until such a task force was installed in place. Surprisingly, the government realised the need and the citizens’ stipulation was fulfilled. Yet today I wonder if our demand was adequate. A fight against terror is a must and the country needs to be protected from further attacks; however the loss of life that occurs due to such attacks is no different from the loss of life that occurs due to poor health and safety regulations. So why has there been no crusade in the country towards improving the general living and working conditions in our cities?
Yes we are a developing country and that means that we have limited financial resources. However, that does not mean that we do not try and improve efficiency and productivity. Improving health and safety standards not only protects human life from unnecessary fatalities but also improves the economic output. Take construction workers working on scaffolding without harness for example. A good worker, unable to balance himself will be inefficient at higher altitudes and will eventually be replaced by maybe a less able individual, either by the supervisor or by mortality. Providing the good worker with a harness will help him be efficient and deliver on time. The same harness will also prevent accidental falls and save lives. With India undergoing a construction and infrastructure boom, this safety standard that has apparently been made mandatory by the government, but its use is still not widespread. Setting up of new standards might also lead to an increase in jobs or in creation of new ones–manufacturers, distributors, training experts, inspectors etc. One cannot neglect the increased feeling of safety and security that it will provide to the daily wage earner, increasing his dedication to work.
Joseph Stiglitz, the noble prize winning economist calls communities the fourth pillar of economic development (the other three being markets, government and individuals). The vast economic disparity in India, the caste based society and the restricted access of English to the elite and the upper middle class; have all led to the non-development of this fourth pillar in India. Vested interests dominating inclusive growth and the prevalent acceptance of corruption, both further fuel the economic disparity preventing community development. In the absence of community development and with extreme poverty it is difficult to install health and safety regulations which will be adhered to and be effective. However, just because it will not be effective, does not mean that we should not start somewhere; the same way that just because in the long run we will all be dead does not stop us from living and learning in the process. Any thoughts, any ideas, please do share.
The November 26 attacks of Mumbai created a furore in the city. There was public outcry for a special armed force to be created for the protection of Mumbai; after all, the city has suffered numerous terrorist attacks in the last few years. I was among those who became a part of one such movement, a group that silently but visibly (with black arm bands tied through out the day) declared that we would not rest until such a task force was installed in place. Surprisingly, the government realised the need and the citizens’ stipulation was fulfilled. Yet today I wonder if our demand was adequate. A fight against terror is a must and the country needs to be protected from further attacks; however the loss of life that occurs due to such attacks is no different from the loss of life that occurs due to poor health and safety regulations. So why has there been no crusade in the country towards improving the general living and working conditions in our cities?
Yes we are a developing country and that means that we have limited financial resources. However, that does not mean that we do not try and improve efficiency and productivity. Improving health and safety standards not only protects human life from unnecessary fatalities but also improves the economic output. Take construction workers working on scaffolding without harness for example. A good worker, unable to balance himself will be inefficient at higher altitudes and will eventually be replaced by maybe a less able individual, either by the supervisor or by mortality. Providing the good worker with a harness will help him be efficient and deliver on time. The same harness will also prevent accidental falls and save lives. With India undergoing a construction and infrastructure boom, this safety standard that has apparently been made mandatory by the government, but its use is still not widespread. Setting up of new standards might also lead to an increase in jobs or in creation of new ones–manufacturers, distributors, training experts, inspectors etc. One cannot neglect the increased feeling of safety and security that it will provide to the daily wage earner, increasing his dedication to work.
Joseph Stiglitz, the noble prize winning economist calls communities the fourth pillar of economic development (the other three being markets, government and individuals). The vast economic disparity in India, the caste based society and the restricted access of English to the elite and the upper middle class; have all led to the non-development of this fourth pillar in India. Vested interests dominating inclusive growth and the prevalent acceptance of corruption, both further fuel the economic disparity preventing community development. In the absence of community development and with extreme poverty it is difficult to install health and safety regulations which will be adhered to and be effective. However, just because it will not be effective, does not mean that we should not start somewhere; the same way that just because in the long run we will all be dead does not stop us from living and learning in the process. Any thoughts, any ideas, please do share.
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