After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May
Govt. should enforce ESMA strongly to stop essential services strikes
If one flips back the pages of history, it would not take much time to gauge that the concept of strikes was developed to bring in political change in a country. With time, the whole motive of strike metamorphosed from bring political change to propagation of individual's (or of a small community's) interests, sidelining the bigger picture. Talking about India, strikes here have become a more common phenomenon. Initially, these were used by workers to protest against the industries and to call for collective bargaining sessions. Today, even the most educated classes of society, who at large are not at the bottom of the pyramid, resort to strikes.
Recently, more than 50 people lost their lives across the state of Rajasthan after 1,200 doctors and medical practitioners went on strike for three days. This was in spite of knowing the fact that a large population of patients rely on these medical colleges and hospitals for treatment. On the same lines, in June 2010, thousands of patients' medical treatment suffered because of a day-long strike at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. It has been seen that every time it comes to strikes, by and large the common man suffers the most. Airlines are another industry in frequent touch with strikes. So is the legal fraternity. In April and May this year, lawyers across Uttar Pradesh went on strike and didn't allow the judiciary to function in the state. Juxtapose the fact that India already has piles of cases pending, another nonworking and unproductive day would add to the pressure and woes. Same can be iterated for strikes called by oil company employee and bank employees, which straight away hits the economy and the market and lives of many daily wage workers.
Talking in numbers, statistics compiled by the Union Government's Labour Bureau reveals that the number of workers affected by strikes has risen from 570,000 in 2007 to 930,000 in 2009. A day long general strike causes a loss of around Rs 13,000 crore to the country. In countries like France, certain categories of public transport workers, if on strike can be prosecuted. Same goes for railroad employees in the US. Even in few of the US states, teachers are banned from calling strikes.
India too has its ESMA, the Essential Services Maintenance Act, using which the government can break the back of any strike. Although the government does invoke this act from time to time (the recent truckers' strike is a key example), it stops short of enforcing the act to its fullest. The recent AIIMS strike is a crying example. Doctors are covered under ESMA and cannot strike work. Period. However, in the AIIMS strike, and in many such similar strikes, the government ' which could set an example ' failed to do so. Even ESMA can enforce a fine of only Rs.200 per individual, though a jail term of 6 months can also be enforced. We say, either impose ESMA to its fullest, or update its powers to become practicable!
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Govt. should enforce ESMA strongly to stop essential services strikes
If one flips back the pages of history, it would not take much time to gauge that the concept of strikes was developed to bring in political change in a country. With time, the whole motive of strike metamorphosed from bring political change to propagation of individual's (or of a small community's) interests, sidelining the bigger picture. Talking about India, strikes here have become a more common phenomenon. Initially, these were used by workers to protest against the industries and to call for collective bargaining sessions. Today, even the most educated classes of society, who at large are not at the bottom of the pyramid, resort to strikes.
Recently, more than 50 people lost their lives across the state of Rajasthan after 1,200 doctors and medical practitioners went on strike for three days. This was in spite of knowing the fact that a large population of patients rely on these medical colleges and hospitals for treatment. On the same lines, in June 2010, thousands of patients' medical treatment suffered because of a day-long strike at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. It has been seen that every time it comes to strikes, by and large the common man suffers the most. Airlines are another industry in frequent touch with strikes. So is the legal fraternity. In April and May this year, lawyers across Uttar Pradesh went on strike and didn't allow the judiciary to function in the state. Juxtapose the fact that India already has piles of cases pending, another nonworking and unproductive day would add to the pressure and woes. Same can be iterated for strikes called by oil company employee and bank employees, which straight away hits the economy and the market and lives of many daily wage workers.
Talking in numbers, statistics compiled by the Union Government's Labour Bureau reveals that the number of workers affected by strikes has risen from 570,000 in 2007 to 930,000 in 2009. A day long general strike causes a loss of around Rs 13,000 crore to the country. In countries like France, certain categories of public transport workers, if on strike can be prosecuted. Same goes for railroad employees in the US. Even in few of the US states, teachers are banned from calling strikes.
India too has its ESMA, the Essential Services Maintenance Act, using which the government can break the back of any strike. Although the government does invoke this act from time to time (the recent truckers' strike is a key example), it stops short of enforcing the act to its fullest. The recent AIIMS strike is a crying example. Doctors are covered under ESMA and cannot strike work. Period. However, in the AIIMS strike, and in many such similar strikes, the government ' which could set an example ' failed to do so. Even ESMA can enforce a fine of only Rs.200 per individual, though a jail term of 6 months can also be enforced. We say, either impose ESMA to its fullest, or update its powers to become practicable!
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Marches Ahead in B-School Rankings...
IIPM Proves Its Mettle Once Again...
IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board
An array of unconventional career options
Indian universities and higher education institutes seem to be caught in a time warp teaching things
The hunt for hostel and paying guest (PG) accommodation for students
Best Colleges for Vocational Courses in India
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