Letters to THE EDITOR: Surge in explosion

Surge in explosion

In the last few years, India has witnessed a surge in explosion-related accidents in industrial and commercial establishments. According to the Directorate General for Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), 32,413 accidents occurred across industries in 2020, resulting in over 1,000 casualties. The fire accident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune, the toxic gas leak at the LG Polymers chemical factory in Visakhapatnam, and boiler explosions at the thermal power plant in Neyveli Lignite Corporation are some of the prominent cases of industrial accidents in the country that have taken many workers’ lives. Not to forget the big fire accident that took place in a commercial building near the Mundka metro station in outer Delhi in May last year, which consumed as many as 27 lives. On the one hand, the country boasts of being an industrial powerhouse with a lot of innovative schemes and reforms in place. But on the other hand, tragedies like the above are all too common, with desperate and vulnerable workers often paying the price. The importance of safety and health at the workplace should not be neglected, as it has a direct impact on the well-being and productivity of workers. Occupational health and safe working conditions are basic rights of every worker, irrespective of the sector he or she works in.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,

siva19kumar@gmail.com.

Strange code for students

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET UG) that was held across the country Sunday has evoked justifiable uproar and outrage among students and parents. The National Testing Agency (NTA) that’s in charge of conducting NEET has shown it can go to extremes while imposing strange dress codes for both boys and girls who were, apart from the dress codes, subjected to the highest degree of frisking when they arrived at the school to take the test that could make or break their careers. The bra straps of girl students being checked because of the metallic hook and a few girls being forced to remove their inner wear are only a few examples. Most of the students must have been a perturbed lot after being subjected to a harrowing examination of a different kind even before taking the actual test.

By the same token, one may add that the staff was not adequately sensitized to deal with the students, especially girls, who require that extra care. Instead of infusing a conducive environment for the students before taking perhaps the most important test of their lives, the NTA was unfortunately dampening the spirits of the traumatized young minds. All this because the NTA has gone into a zealous overdrive to prevent malpractices in the test, as the CBSE that conducted tests before 2018 had burned its fingers a couple of times. It is also obvious that the same rules have yet to sink into the psyche of students. Such “primitive” practices are bound to lower the morale of students appearing in future exams. They also prove that the NTA is evading responsibility through harsh rules.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat

gbhat13@gmail.com .

Importance of mothers in our lives

In India, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year. But in many other countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated at an entirely different time of the year. But whatever the date of Mother’s Day around the world, the spirit of the celebration is the same everywhere. Everywhere in the world, mothers are respected for their extreme devotion to their children. And on Mother’s Day, children pay their humblest tribute to their mothers and also thank her for giving them birth and providing them with the best possible upbringing. Our mothers are like a security blanket to us because they save us from all problems.

Jubel D’Cruz,

jubeldcruz@yahoo.com.