[Assam] From BBC News/ About Poverty Porn and Then Some

[Alpana B. Sarangapani]

Thanks for posting this, C'da. 
The original post by Ms. Jha is interesting but "what's new?" comes into the mind immediately after reading it.
 
> little bit from his 'destiny' and social confinement. The question I > would ask him would be if his children go to school, only because > only then will they surface above the drain (underground) and see the > sky. I appreciate your piece and the analogy intended, but I wish for > you to bridge Rewa Ram and the space programme, only then can you hit > anything.> Gaurav Roy Choudhury, India 
 
I agree with everything that this person has said.
 
 

 
 




  
 
 
 

  
 > Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 21:28:54 -0600> To: assam at assamnet.org> From: cmahanta at charter.net> Subject: [Assam] From BBC News/ About Poverty Porn and Then Some> > Caution: This may be harmful for your national self-esteem!!!> > cm> > > > > 'My life cleaning Delhi's sewers'> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7872770.stm> > India may be spending billions on its high tech space programme but > its spending on sewers is decidedly low tech and deadly, reports the > BBC's Rupa Jha.> I will never forget the sight of that thin short man, wearing nothing > but cotton underpants, strapped into a harness arrangement, > disappearing down into a dark manhole beneath the streets of my home > city.> The diameter of the hole was so small that he bruised himself while > slipping down.> Inside was a dark well, full of sewage, with giant cockroaches > sticking to the wall.> Before he climbed in I asked him his name. I was really surprised > when he answered flamboyantly, "Rewa Ram - Son of Khanjan."> I thought: "He must be educated, seems to speak some English." But > when I asked him, he said: "No. I'm a complete illiterate."> When I looked down that hole into the drains of Delhi, the smell was > overwhelming. Down below, he was coughing, trying hard to keep > breathing.> He was struggling to clear a blockage with his bare hands.> Dizzying smell> All of a sudden, a pipe protruding into the drain above his head > started spewing out water and human faeces that poured over his body.> > I began to feel dizzy just looking down into this mess.> My nostrils were filled with that obnoxious smell, a bit like of > rotten eggs. I wanted to vomit. I felt weak and wanted to run away > from the smell.> I was born and brought up in India and for the past 15 years I have > lived in Delhi, the capital city of one of the world's most rapidly > growing economies. I am a member of the growing, upwardly mobile > middle class.> I suppose I represent the "roaring Tiger" India, but I am regularly > shocked and surprised when I see the struggle for dignity that so > many face here.> Literally beneath the glitter of the big city lies a vast network of > these dark drains, where so many Rewa Rams are struggling with toxic > gases and human waste. They suffer disease and discrimination in > return for cleaning the city's sewage system.> Deadly job> Rewa Ram is just one of thousands of sanitation workers in India who > work hard to keep the cities, towns and villages clean.> Most of them come from the community of lower caste Dalits as they > are known, or untouchables.> Health experts working in the field told me most of these workers > would die before their retirement because of the poor health and > safety conditions they work in. Their life expectancy is thought to > be around 10 years less than the national average.> Dr Ashish Mittal, an occupational health consultant, did a survey of > the working conditions of sewage workers.> He told me most of the workers suffer from chronic diseases, > respiratory problems, skin disorders and allergies. He said they are > constantly troubled by headaches and eye infections. I am not > surprised.> Rewa Ram was pulled out when he started feeling dizzy from the toxic > fumes in the manhole.> They were thick with a mixture of methane and hydrogen sulphide, both > considered potentially fatal by the health experts.> He needed water to clean himself, just a splash on his face could > have made him feel better.> His colleagues started banging on doors of the rich neighbourhood > where he was working. Nobody opened their gate.> Ancient sewers> Human rights activists and trade unionists I have talked to ask a > simple question. If the government of India can spend billions on its > space programme, if Delhi can reach all its targets for the > beautification of the city in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, > including an underground train system, then why can't the sewage > system be modernised?> Why does it still rely on sending practically naked men down below > the streets to clear the drains with their bare hands, being exposed > to noxious gases which could take them to a premature grave?> I put these questions to the authorities.> The reply? "We are trying our best."> It did not really feel good enough after what I had seen.> The law courts have passed several orders banning human beings from > going into the sewage system unless it is an emergency.> In Delhi it looks as if every day is an emergency in the sewers.> Smell of death> I asked Rewa Ram, still breathless and covered with the sewage from > the drain: "How do you feel about having to do this work?"> With folded arms, he replied: "I am not educated, I come from a very > poor family of untouchables. What else can I expect?> "At least I have a government job and I am able to feed my children. > I get into this hell everyday but then this is my job.> "I live smelling death, but it is fine."> But is it fine? Why should he expect so little just because he comes > from a lower caste and is not educated?> How can our so-called civil society be so indifferent to the millions > like him? I, for one, am left feeling guilty.> From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 7 February, > 2009 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules > for World Service transmission times.> Rupa Jha's report on India's sewage cleaners can be heard on the One > Planet programme on BBC World Service on Thursday 12 February 2009 to > Saturday 14 February. After broadcast you can download the podcast > from here.> If you would like to comment on this story please use the form below. > Here is a selection of your comments so far.> > Being an Indian myself who was brought up in the streets of Delhi, I > feel equally guilty for being part of the system which cannot be > changed to improve the lives of millions of Indians like Rewa Ram. It > is an excellent article by Rupa Jha showing the realities of so > called 'Modern India', a true dedication to the profession of > journalism.> Preet Singh, United Kingdom> Rewa Ram has more dignity and integrity than those of a so called > higher class have and his story moved me. We are all interdependent > on each other and need to sweep away discrimination because of class > or religion and treat each other with compassion. If not as a planet > or species we have had it> Graham , haywards heath uk> > This is just like 1st half of the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Poverty > at its worst...We Indians have learnt to turn a blind eye to the > plight of our fellow countrymen who are struggling everyday and > everyone is just busy leading their own selfish lives including me. > It's high time that educated middle class people like us make an > effort to make the government accountable for their actions and > decisions.> Dimple, UK> It will be a good idea for Rupa Jha to follow up on this story with > authorities asking them for the work safety rules If they exist. If > they do, see to what extent they are followed. Should also follow up > with the court to see what they consider emergency and what safety > provisions starting from clothes, boots, gloves, respirators, > hazardous gas detectors etc are to be provided for such emergency > work. Does his employer provide adequate insurance in case he dies > performing his work? If he belongs to union, what are they doing to > protect him? Do they lobby the legislators to write laws for his > safety and if not followed hold his employers liable for his death? > Perhaps an investigative reporting may shake up the authorities and > something good may happen for these workers.> Bharat Shah, USA> It is a pathetic state of affairs, indeed. However, the change has to > come from the top. For instance, in the state of Tamil Nadu, humans > have been replaced by special machines to go down into sewers. > Sustained pressure from the media forced the authorities to do this. > Change takes time and such changes need to be done fast and > everywhere.> Raju, Saudi Arabia> I really got the shock of my life after reading this. Being such a > great nation, India surely MUST look into these issues and take the > necessary actions immediately.> Harshula, Sri Lanka> This is a national disgrace.....> Karan Kharyal, India> > Very interesting and investigative report.> Thomas Kallachil, Scotland> It is indeed a good attempt by Rupa to bring out the helplessness of > the sewer workers. These kinds of things are often downplayed by the > Government and people tend to forget them. This will be a harsh > reminder for the people of India. A Chandrayaan does bring joy to the > nation but the basics have to be set right first.> Rahul Nair, India> This man, Mr. Rewa Ram is wearing rubber gloves. I live in East > Delhi, and I've never seen a sewage worker wearing these gloves. They > only have their pants on when they go into the sewage. I appreciate > articles like this, but this article doesn't even begin to describe > what these 'people' go through. Newspapers around here often talk > about Human Rights abuse in countries like China, but I ask myself, > "What Human Rights are they talking about???" Words like 'appalling' > cannot portray so many things going on here.> Anonymous Foreigner, India> Poverty in Africa is a tragedy, whereas in India it is a scandal. The > Indian state and society have the means and wealth to remove extreme > want, but refuse to engage with the issue. The gap between intentions > and actions has always been a problem in this country, and it only > seems to be getting worse.> James whewell, UK> A friend of mine pointed me to this story. We started discussing > this, and he suggested that may be we can try raise money to give > masks and clothing to these hard working citizens. These are some of > the questions that came up during over conversation. Hoping that the > author of the article and/or readers can provide some answers. 1) > What are the number of people who do this kind of work? 2) What is > the body that employs them? 3) Is there any local organization that > would be interested in delivering these guys at least basic safety > gear?> Manish, USA> Rewa Ram and millions like him, have been stripped naked by the > centuries of apathy dealt out to them by the Hindu caste system. They > have but existed, inspite of all odds. They do not owe anyone > anything, yet they feel obliged. They are not inferior yet they feel > it. A mass psychosis of this scale can only begin to hint at the > atrocities and isolation they have had to sustain. Today modern India > lives off them, in sewers, in construction sites, in filthy sweat > shops, taking advantage of their 'lowly' temperaments. Its true, if > he was not working with the government, he would have been bonded to > a labour agent for a few grains of rice. But to his credit, everyday > he goes deep down into the sewer risking his life, he breaks away a > little bit from his 'destiny' and social confinement. The question I > would ask him would be if his children go to school, only because > only then will they surface above the drain (underground) and see the > sky. I appreciate your piece and the analogy intended, but I wish for > you to bridge Rewa Ram and the space programme, only then can you hit > anything.> Gaurav Roy Choudhury, India> I totally agree with the feelings of Rupa, this gentleman and people > like him deserves far better treatment and this case study could > serve as an example of still persisting cast based societal bias in > India, as it were a century ago. India is the only poor country in > the world that spends too disproportionally for space programs and > for a billion of its poverty stricken citizens like Rewa Ram.> Felix Bast, Japan> > > Name> Your e-mail address> Country> Comments> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________> assam mailing list> assam at assamnet.org> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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