By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Kanpur: Prestigious institute of technical education, ITT Kanpur have denied medical care and failed to provide proper safety equipment to daily wage labourers working on campus.
Magsaysay award-winner Sandeep Pandey listed three deaths in July and August of this year. Mohammad Rustam, of Malda, West Bengal died on 26th July by poisoning after a snake or scorpion bite. On 26th of August, Udayvir Yadav died after being electrocuted by his welding machine. On 30th August 12 year old Rohit also died by snake bit poisoning.
Rohit was denied medical care by IIT Health Centre resulting in his death. Centre refused treatment because his is not an employee’s son.
Mohammad Rustam who died in July was shipped out of campus and buried in a graveyward near a masjid in Naramau. Mohammad Rustam who is survived by 3 sons and 3 daughters was working to construct Core Lab near Wind Tunnel.
Sandeep Pandey, who is the convenor, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) alleged that IIT administration and contractors employing these labourers are trying their best to suppress the news. In a statement released to the press Mr. Pandey revealed that “Some IIT professors also feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not so much concerned about the families of the dead or the poor working conditions of the workers who have made it possible for them to enjoy world class material facilities on the campus.”
Mr. Pandey strongly condemned “the insensitive and cold attitude of IIT community to the deaths of daily wage workers and shoddy manner in which they are dealt.” Demanding guilty at the Health Centre who are responsible for denying medical treatment to Rohit should be punished, Mr. Pandey also wanted dependent of deceased to be compensated immediately.
The NAPM demanded that “the IIT administration must put in place a transparent and verifiable system for ensuring due rights of the daily wage workers under the law of the land. Health care for families of workers, education for their children and good quality housing (to prevent incidents like snake/scorpion bites) is the minimum basic responsibility of IIT if it is to live up to its reputation of a world class institution.”