Borewell tragedies
The recent tragic case of a child in Tamil Nadu who fell into an abandoned bore hole (which ironically was in the family's own land) has been played out in the full glare of the TV and other media. The child died despite the efforts of many official and unofficial volunteers including a minister. The mobilisation of various government rescue agencies must have also resulted a huge expenditure to the taxpayers.
The state government and political parties have announced sizeable grants to the parents. All this in spite of the fact that the main cause is the negligence of the parents who failed to erect a barrier or otherwise cover or fill up the abandoned hole in their own land. In the meanwhile, the government (at the taxpayer's expense) has closed the hole by pouring concrete into it.
An agency has even announced a contest and a prize for devising the best solution for retrieving children who may be involved in similar accidents in future, neglecting the fact that these are wholly preventable accidents and several such mishaps have happened and widely reported in the past couple of decades (ever since 24 hour news channels have come on the scene). A few even blamed the PM for ignoring the event, though it was finally reported that he had made a tweet about the accident.
Though this is a regrettable event and a personal tragedy, the way the accident was publicised and ex gratia assistance committed by the government and various politicians give a completely wrong message; that even though you totally ignore basic safety norms resulting in a death, it does not matter and you can even reap a reward from the event .
I suggest that a fund is created out of all the donations and ex-gratia assistance promised in this case and is used to meet the expenses of the government incurred for the child's retrieval and balance is spent to institute preventive measures in the village/taluk/district. It should be made clear by the concerned authorities that, in future the person in whose land any uncovered borehole results in an accident is responsible for all resulting liabilities including criminal negligence. more
The state government and political parties have announced sizeable grants to the parents. All this in spite of the fact that the main cause is the negligence of the parents who failed to erect a barrier or otherwise cover or fill up the abandoned hole in their own land. In the meanwhile, the government (at the taxpayer's expense) has closed the hole by pouring concrete into it.
An agency has even announced a contest and a prize for devising the best solution for retrieving children who may be involved in similar accidents in future, neglecting the fact that these are wholly preventable accidents and several such mishaps have happened and widely reported in the past couple of decades (ever since 24 hour news channels have come on the scene). A few even blamed the PM for ignoring the event, though it was finally reported that he had made a tweet about the accident.
Though this is a regrettable event and a personal tragedy, the way the accident was publicised and ex gratia assistance committed by the government and various politicians give a completely wrong message; that even though you totally ignore basic safety norms resulting in a death, it does not matter and you can even reap a reward from the event .
I suggest that a fund is created out of all the donations and ex-gratia assistance promised in this case and is used to meet the expenses of the government incurred for the child's retrieval and balance is spent to institute preventive measures in the village/taluk/district. It should be made clear by the concerned authorities that, in future the person in whose land any uncovered borehole results in an accident is responsible for all resulting liabilities including criminal negligence. more
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The child had fallen into the abandoned bore well in the agri land owned by the father. It was dug seven years back. The father was well aware he should have closed the well and punished for negligence had there been proper law was in place. While the loss child deserves sympathy., award of Rs 10 amount rewarding negligence. Had the child been of his neighbour he would habeen punished/ condemned. more
Oct 31
The least that can be done now is that the owners of the wells (the local government, parents, others) close the wells, if not fully at lease in such way that no one falls into it (cover it with a perforated steel or aluminium sheet so that rain water fills the well). more
Oct 31
It is really unfortunate that the parents lost a child only due to their negligence . One They had no supervision on the tiny tot , who should be accompanied always . Second the the borewell belongs to the father of the diseased . The same Government and the ministers were stationed there on the spot , why they ddnt have any confidence on the people they gave the responsibility ? THE SAME gOVERNMENT , IN THE LEX BOARD CASE WHERE SUBASHRE DIED BOOKED A CASE ON THE LORRY DRIVER AND ARRESTED , TOOK 2 WEEKS TO ARREST THE GUILTY PARTY FUNCTIONAY. This will definitely send a wrong message to the general public . more
Oct 31
i think we should incentivise the village level authorities with absolute ownership to declare open bore well free zone and also new bore well vendors to be informed to cover the one which is newly done else vendors will be held responsible. this is similar to the gas agency like indane, bharat gas owning the safety of their products. we can also use remote sensing agencies for identification of the open bore wells more
Oct 31
If you tell these facts to the people they will twist the matter and tell that you are heartless. Instead of preventing, we are wasting so much resource unnecessarily. Instead of punishing the parents they are rewarded. Soon there will be lots of people queue up for such reward. Let us wait and see. more
Oct 31
