- To protect people from exploitation the government
makes certain laws. These laws try to ensure that the unfair practices are
kept at a minimum in the markets.
- To ensure that workers are not underpaid but are paid
fairly, minimum wages has been set by governments.
- There are laws that protect the interests of producers
and consumers in the market.
- The government has to ensure that these laws are
implemented which means that the law must be enforced.
- Enforcement becomes even more important when the laws,
the government can control the activities of individuals or private
companies so as to ensure social justice.
- Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution
like ‘Right against Exploitation’ say that no one can be forced to work
for low wages or under bondage.
- The Constitution lays down no child below the age of 14
years shall be employed to work in any factory or mines or engaged in any
other hazardous employment.
- The Constitution has also make provisions against any
sort of exploitation of human being irrespective of gender and sex.
- By making constitutional rights governments always try
to ensure social justice to every section of society.
- The Social and Just society makes the basis of Gandhian
socialism and avail the resources to everyone and stop the discrimination.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy:
- The world’s worst industrial tragedy took place in
Bhopal 24 years ago.
- Union Carbide (UC) an American company had a factory in
the city in which it produced pesticides. MIC, a highly poisonous gas,
started leaking on 2 December 1984, at midnight from the factory.
- Within three days more than 8,000 people were dead,
Hundreds of thousands were maimed.
- US stopped its operations but left behind tons of toxic
chemicals.
- 24 years later, people are still fighting for justice,
for safe drinking water, for healthcare facilities and jobs for the people
poisoned by UC. After effects still haunts the generations of victims.
- Governments come and go but people are waiting for
justice. To stop any such sort of incidents in future the developers and
business class should make liable by making strict laws.So that such
incidents could not take place in future.
What is a Worker’s worth:
- Foreign companies come to India for cheaper labor.
- Wages in USA are higher than that compared to workers
in poorer countries like in India.
- For lower pay, companies can get longer hours of work.
- Cost cutting can be done by other more dangerous means,
e.g., lower working conditions including lower safety measures are used as
ways of cutting costs.
- Since there is as much unemployment, there are many
workers who are willing to work in unsafe conditions in return for a wage.
- In the grave situation of unemployment where people are
ready to work in corrosive situation as well, it become the duty of
government to ensure the safety of its citizens.
- Proper safety laws should be present to protect the
people from damages and incidents.
Enforcement of Safety Laws:
- As the lawmaker and enforcer, the government is
supposed to ensure that safety laws are implemented.
- It is the duty of the government to ensure that the
Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution is not
violated.
- Instead of protecting the interests of the people,
their safety was being disregarded both by the government and by private
companies.
- With more industries being set up both by local and
foreign business in India, there is a great need for stronger laws
protecting workers rights and better enforcement of these laws.
- Before approval of any industry laws and codes must be
satisfied with and after assessment permission should be given.
New Laws to Protect the Environment:
- In 1984, there were very few laws protecting
environment (Environment protection act 1986)in India and there was hardly
any enforcement of these laws.
- Environment was treated as a ‘free’ entity and industry
could pollute the air and water without any restricted.
- Whether it was our rivers, air or groundwater the environment
was being polluted and the health of people disregarded.
- The polluter was to be held accountable for the damage
done to environment.
- The Government is responsible for setting up laws and
procedures that can check pollution, clean rivers and introduce heavy
fines for those who pollute.
- Supreme Court in many of judgments has also said
about the right to healthy life and safe drinking water as essential part
of article 21 that is right to life.
- Recently by invoking swatch Bharat Abhiyan, Namami
Gangay and Rally for rivers government has shown its commitment towards
environment protection.
- By imposing high carbon tax and high taxes of petroleum
government is deterring individual from misusing these resources.
- At international level as well India is showing its
commitment towards environment issue.
Environment as a Public Facility:
- Environment issue in India has highlighted the fact
that the growing concern for the environment among the middle classes is
often at the expense of the poor.
- The challenge is to look for solutions where everyone
can benefit from a clean environment.
- The government has to encourage and support factories
to gradually move to cleaner technologies.
- This will ensure that the workers livelihoods are
protected and both workers and communities living around the factories
enjoy a safe environment.
- By heavy dependency of rich on air condition and
vehicles the problem of pollution is getting enhanced and burnt has to be
faced by poor.
Conclusion:
- Laws are necessary in many situations, whether this be
the market, office or factory so as to protect people from unfair
practices.
- Laws that are weak and poorly enforced can cause
serious harm.
- While the government has a leading role in the respect,
people can exert pressure so that both private companies and the
government act in the interests of society.
- Here the role has to be played by government by making
better policies and by implementing them in effective manner.
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