Martin F.R.
Basic health safety setup found nowhere, even though massive
construction works being carried out in Chennai central region.
CHENNAI CENTRAL: Thousands of workers are employed in
Chennai Central Region for metro works by CMRL but it seems as if adequate safety
measures are lacking which violates the basic work environment rights of the
employees and other indirect contract
workers & labourers there by risking their life.
Incidents as well as accidents are usual happening
that occurs in any stations across the country, but the unfortunate part of
this is when stations as big as Chennai central railway & suburban station
does not seem to be prepared to provide basic first aid or lack of any
emergency
Clinic possesses a grave threat to any passengers or
employees during any causality which are bound to occur anytime.
Also, as the area is so congested due to traffic
outside the station due to major ongoing infrastructural developments in the
region, the availability & quick passage of 108 ambulances seems to be
bigger issue to reach the area from nearby govt. hospital.
Nearly, 7 incidents have happened in central area, 4
in sub-urban & 3 in main central. Most of these incidents too involve only
youngsters, who mainly fall off the moving train due to excessive overloading
or peeping outside the train coaches and also include disabled or old age
persons who are prone to sudden medical emergencies like High BP or Low BP,
Asthma etc. Also, it seems that only 2 health care workers are sanctioned for
these stations, one being primary healthcare employee for the suburban station
and another is a vacant post simultaneously given to nearby govt. hospital junior
medical superintendent who is on deputation as an additional charge, but his
office seems to be locked most of the time, as he seems to be busy rendering
his services in Govt.RG hospital.
Photo credit-Martin F.R.
Construction workers risking their lives, comprising
their basic work place safety.
Recent Metro
worker Incident is a good example for showcasing and understanding the
existential depth of the issue, where employee got badly injured as crane
technical equipment fell on him and was under severe condition. One of the
reasons for such a condition seems to be late arrival of ambulance, when the
incident occurred.
Mr.Raganathan, the compounder in suburban station says
“such incidents occur rarely and it’s not necessary as the incidents are rare
to occur, and the government had already spent heavily on the renovation of
central station premises and all-round vicinity for improvement of basic infrastructure.
We should not expect much”
Mrs.Gurumurthy, a surgeon herself says, “Such a larger
public space left without required basic medical supervision itself is
something shocking as being a doctor myself, I think its need of the hour that
public healthcare is given due importance by government, if not now ,then when
is my doubt?”
And also, or as
there is no proper emergency or trauma care center in RGG General Hospital, the
victims have to be usually shifted to either
primary hospital or nearby
Government hospital as was in this recent case too.
Sathyavel, a laborer in metro rail works says, they
pay our salary that itself is enough, health safety is something unheard of in
our field of work, but do we need or not is something I think we all do need as
we work in such a hazardous situation”. Also, he mentions about the recent
incident during work, which he claims have raised fear among co workers and let
down their morale.
Gayathri, a daily wage worker says, “Accidents started
happening at a much higher rate since the beginning of CMRL work in the region,
as the pathetic situation they have created by them causing so much congestion
,be it traffic or anything else is causing lot of troubles to four wheeler and
even buses causing grave situation in the area. I myself have witnessed so many
on the spot death cases in around the area and most of them are known to die of
non availability of immediate medical care & response by hospital authorities”
Work safety is of course a broader issue we all
acknowledge but the government has to at least ensure basic health facilities
being provided at least at such larger public spaces.
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