In some ways, practicing politicians remain an enigma for the very people they are supposed to serve. Sometimes their ways are too mysterious for commoners to understand ----- when their actions bear no relation to their declared principles. Take the unfortunate railway accident that killed a minor last Friday near New Alipurduar station.
Thirteen-year-old Raja Sarkar lost his life while doing a painting job on some equipment close to the tracks. This station is on the route of the Guwahati –New Delhi Rajdhani express. Unfortunately for Raja, the train thundered into the station, running over him. Presumably the poor visibility during the cold season was an indirect cause. Even a cursory check into the reasons behind the accident revealed certain facts that do not do credit either to the Railways or the West Bengal Government. According to prevailing laws, 13 year old kids should not be working at all. But local reports said that senior workers who should have been in Raja’s place had outsourced their labour to the boy.
He was keen to earn the Rs 50 promised to him by his seniors. So keen was he to earn, he skipped his school frequently to do this! His father, a railway employee himself, said he was not aware of this. Post accident, a familiar scenario unfolded. Leaders of political parties staged a demonstration, holding up the train for over three hours.
They shouted slogans against Railway authorities and heckled them during discussions. The railways announced a compensation of Rs 8 lakh to the bereaved family. But this did not satisfy the demonstrators, who warned railway staff to be more careful---- or else! No doubt, if a minor is found working on any assigned job at a railway station, resident rail officials including the station master, remain accountable.
They must stop the illegal outsourcing of work by corrupt workers to child labour. There had certainly been an official lapse.
But local political leaders couldhardly get away by taking a holier-than-thou stance. After seven years of heir rule, it remains for them to explain why such child labour should exist at Alipurduar. The incident did not exactly endorse the thousands of state government ads and hoardings that proclaim Bengal’s economic progress .
But instead of any introspection, local leaders were content to point the finger at the railways and utilized to opportunity to harangue them. Demonstration over, they left satisfied, having scored a point in the state vs centre war, with no apology for the service disruption caused and the harassment to passengers ---- clearly the worst sufferers in the matter without any fault ! Mediapersons reporting the incident pointed out that the number of children illegally working as labour was around 500,000 in West Bengal. If so, the state Government must take action by immediately ordering for special reports about the state of the economy in the districts and rural areas.
The primary duty to prevent child labour in West Bengal is that of the state, whiles the centre/Railways, must co-operate more seriously with the State Government on this.
If anyone thinks that such incidents happen only in Bengal, he or she is mistaken. Such incidents are taking place all over the country. Yet the authorities are still in slumber.
