Prevention is better than cure

The recent thick cover of dust all across northern states, including Punjab, is a horrendous shadow of things to come. The pollution has crossed alarming levels to such an extent that the regulatory body – the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) – as well as the Health Department have issued advisories concerning health of the people, particularly, children and elderly. The extremely poor quality of air with dangerous rise in solid particulate matter (SPM) poses a risk to asthmatic persons and those with cardiac condition, who have been advised to remain indoors. Although the adverse weather conditions are to some extent a natural phenomenon, the people and the PPCB cannot simply wash their hands off the situation because they too are equally responsible. Majority of the people are simply indifferent to factors causing pollution. The PPCB is also not doing enough as a regulatory body. If the environment is to be maintained at tolerable levels for our own good, then everyone, including the public and the PPCB, will have to pitch in.

Ensure basic amenities 

When Ludhiana was included in the first list of the 20 cities to be developed as a smart city, residents were hopeful to see major reforms in the industrial town. However, people in various parts of the city are struggling to cope with unsanitary conditions due to choked sewers. Besides, no concrete measures have been taken to resolve the traffic-related problems in the city. An architect said, “Instead of showing dreams of the smart city, the authorities should ensure basic amenities for all. Illegal construction is going on even in the areas, which have been selected for the smart city mission.” 

Whose fault is it? 

Residents watching demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation along the Jagraon bridge were left disappointed. “No matter how illegal it might be, these are ‘homes’ after all, where innocent persons, including small children, lived. Now, they have become homeless all of a sudden. What is their fault?” said one of the onlookers. “The government must disallow construction of such illegal colonies in the first place. If these have come up over time then it is because of the failure of the government and the administrative machinery to stop illegal construction,” he added. “To compensate for that failure, the government must first provide alternative homes to accommodate those people, who are ousted from their ‘homes’,” he said. 

Raids to rescue child labour of no use

The condition of child labour in the city is going from bad to worse. Even if a child is rescued during raids, he/she is never rehabilitated. Sources reveal that rescued children elope and start working elsewhere. While imparting education to these children should have been administration’s prime responsibility, hardly any rescued child is enrolled in a school. Parents of these children are also equally responsible for bonded-child labour. The administration should not only conduct raids, but also follow up sternly on the rehabilitation process of such kids. By rehabilitation, it means that rights of children are ensured.

Contributed by: Kuldip Bhatia, Harshraj Singh, Gurvinder Singh and Naina Mishra