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India (I am sure everywhere else, too) some human lives are in practice considered better, worth more, more precious and superior to other humans. Some human lives can be bought or rented cheaply without the thought that they too have feelings, emotions, and pains just like we each have.
I have seen that concern for occupational, safety and health of employees and workers is significantly lacking and little consideration is normally given to this very important aspect in India. In United States and in many industrialized countries, laws and regulations have been enacted, updated and enforced to improve the health and safety of all people at work including that of the employers. Safer the environment at work, fewer the accidents, less legal, insurance and compensation expenses, fewer number of days lost due to accidents, less factory and equipment damage, better employee morale, higher productivity, more business, more profits and all around a win-win situation for everybody.
Here are a few additional examples of my observations in India.
◊ Once I was touring a metalworking workshop operated by a very devout and strict Jain who required himself his Pooja every day before opening his factory. He had about thirty workers in his shop working and walking in the factory wearing chappals made out of rubber tires. Because of the nature of metalworking operation, there were lots of very sharp-edged sheet metal cuttings scattered all around his workshop floor. When I saw the workers working there with their flimsy rubber chappals, I was appalled to see that if any worker stepped on those sharp sheet metal cuttings, he would have a large cut with lots of bleeding which may further lead to severe and maybe fatal infections. In the West, it is mandatory for industrial workers to use steel soles and steel-toed shoes. This may cost about Rs. 1000-2000 (I guess) for each worker, for a total investment of Rs 50,000 for the entire factory and these shoes last for at least ten years. I suggested to the owner the dangers of his workers
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An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
