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Read, Debate: Engage.
| topic: | Human Rights |
|---|---|
| located: | India |
| editor: | Hanan Zaffar |
Every year, India registers the death of hundreds of workers due to insignificant and unreliable safety measures in factories and construction sites. This year has been no different. According to government data, three workers die every day in Indian factories due to a lack of basic safety measures. The number goes higher for workers who lose their eyesight, fingers, or hands. Despite having strict laws to protect workers, less than 0.4% of cases where employers don't observe safety regulations result in punishment for offenders.
Although India has witnessed economic and industrial progress with much safer equipment in place, the disturbing reality continues to exist in the textiles, manufacturing, and construction industries, leaving thousands of people impaired for a lifetime.
These workplace tragedies cause people to live their lives handicapped, visionless, or without limbs. The compensation remains unseen and unheard, and the financial burden falls on families who, in most cases, cannot afford medical treatment or rehabilitation. Many families lose their sole breadwinners and spend the rest of their lives with no shelter and food.
At least 6500 workers have died in India in factories, construction sites, and mines in the previous five years due to a lack of safety measures.
Inadequate training for technical workers has been a primary cause of accidents in the workplace in India. Neglecting basic safety measures and neglecting the usage of PPE or other safety protocols have recently doubled the risk.
The recent increase in workplace accidents highlights the need for strict safety measures. In May last year, 27 people were killed in a massive fire in a commercial building in India's capital, Delhi. There was a failure to obtain a clearance certificate from the fire department and police, which led to this incident. Unfortunately, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred due to the lack of required licenses. This is a crucial factor contributing to the increase in the number of such accidents.
Experts propose that comprehensive training programs would improve the proper usage of machinery in industries and prevent significant setbacks resulting in fatalities and accidents.
In August 2022, a 21-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh lost his hand to a power press machine due to a lack of proper training. Thousands of similar cases are reported daily nationwide, with improper training being a significant reason.
Although Indian laws provide enough space for acts to regulate workplace safety and security for labourers, strict implementation is critical. The authorities must take the guidelines seriously and communicate the procedures and due requirements.
Image by Hardik Monga.
