Fwd: Investigate death of youths in Lucknow

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: mohanlal panda <pandaml67@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Subject: Investigate death of youths in Lucknow
To: akpnhrc@yahoo.com
Cc: jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in

 

 

To

The Chairperson

NHRC

New Delhi

 

Sir,

Greetings from PVCHR.

 

Please refer to the news below in the link: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/working-without-safety-gear-two-die-cleaning-sewer-in-vip-area/805006/

 

The reported death of two labourers in Lucknow while cleaning an underground drain withour safety gear once again brings out the non adherence of safty measures by the employeer. 

Reportedly, the labourers were employed by a contractor.

 

On behalf of PVCHR, I request NHRC to look into the matter and find out whether government has laid out mandatory safety standards for adherence to the contractors. The state can not absolve itself for contracting its work. The death of two youths has exposed the vulnerability of workers in unorganised sector. The families of the dead persons should be adequately compensated.

 

Best regards

Dr. Mohanlal Panda

Advisor, PVCHR

B-202, Neelachal Appt, Plot-3, Sector-4

Dwarka, New Delhi-110075

Mobile: :+91-9818499296

 

Main Office: SA 4/2 A, Daulatpur, Varanasi-221002
Mobile:+91-9935599333

www.pvchr.org

www.pvchr.net    

Working without safety gear, two die cleaning sewer in VIP area

Express News Service Posted online: Fri Jun 17 2011, 03:03 hrs

Lucknow : Two young men died in Lucknow after inhaling poisonous gases when they were sent down to clean an underground drain without face masks or any other safety equipment. The incident took place in front of the residence of PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui on Vikramaditya Marg, a VIP area, on Thursday morning.

The spot is less than a kilometre away from Chief Minster Mayawati's house.

While the police did not register any case in the absence of any complaint, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation disowned responsibility, saying the deceased were employees of a contractor they had hired for the job.

Asgar Ali, a resident of Bazarkhala and Mahboob Ali, a resident of Chowk area — both 20 — fell unconscious the moment they went inside the manhole. Another labourer, Ana Husain, raised an alarm. An earth mover was summoned, which widened the opening and they were taken out. They were taken to the Trauma Centre, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

"The incident has been recorded, but no FIR has been lodged as there was no complaint," said K N Mishra, SHO of Hazratganj.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh said both men were employees of K K Tiwari, whom the corporation had given a contract to clean major drains of that area. He said it was the responsibility of the contractor to provide safety equipment to workers.

"He gave Rs 25,000 each to the families," Singh said.

The contractor's cellphone was switched off.

Lucknow Municipal Corporation Junior Engineer Kishori Lal said it was a usual practice for labourers to clean drains without wearing masks.