Editor,
Charity begins at home. But when that charity steps out of the threshold of a home, it brings comfort to the deprived. Then true love for humanity begins to take root. Only then does compassion and love find expression. One starts to feel a better “human” whispering from within. Inner satisfaction out of an act of charity also overwhelms us with happiness. This is how one can cleanse oneself of the worldly toxicity that has gripped humankind. No amount of money held with a tight-fist has ever helped anyone gain virtue. Virtue is earned only by being generous and kind.
We should be grateful to the Ardhendu Charity Trust that has taken to practicing what it preaches. The TRUST initiated by former Minister Manas Chaudhari, is now feeding a minimum 200 hungry mouths at Jhalupara on a daily basis. People bestow their blessings on the TRUST which goes beyond materialistic calculation. Also what is very clear is that many people have learned from the TRUST how to make their lives more meaningful. It has awakened the spirit of benevolence in many which otherwise has been lying dormant. This adds to the positive vibes in society. Many individuals have come forward to pitch in for the service of feeding hungry mouths.
The enlightened sages assert that amassing fortune has no value if the major part of it is not used for the betterment of the society and environment. In a practical sense, we are heavily indebted to Mother Nature. Only by generously giving away a part of our wealth towards righteous causes do we become free from that “debt.” Just imagine what would have happened if we had to buy “air” from the laboratory. Would each individual be able to buy air, without which we can’t survive even for a few minutes? We get it all for free. Similarly, we get water and all food products grown from this amazing earth. What would we do if from tomorrow all such nourishing plants, grains, and cereals stop growing! We will die of starvation. We can’t eat mud and stones for a living. So, we can imagine how we “owe our survival” to every part of Mother Earth; the entire NATURE. Hence by exercising charity we clear our “debts” and also clear out the accumulated dirt from our mindsets.
However, there is a bottom-line and a complete no-no in charity. Here is where many fail and become small. We should not expect any returns out of a charitable act. ‘Philanthropy with eyes set on favours from beneficiaries is like a trade’, says Vivekananda in his speeches. It will not reap spiritual benefits at all. Rather it stifles the soul. So let our souls breathe easy now and hereafter. No dead body has carried his/her accumulated wealth to the graveyard.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Put an end to slavery
Editor,
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is celebrated every year on December 2. The abolition of slavery is indeed a must for the survival of democracy. On being asked about the definition of democracy, Abraham Lincoln said, “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.” This is the best explanation of why democracy can survive only after the abolition of slavery.
Though the practice of engaging bonded labour has been criminalised in India, it has not been totally wiped out. According to the 2018 Global Slavery report as many as 351 out of 743 spinning mills in Tamil Nadu engage bonded labourers. The movements of those labourers have been restricted. Their mobile phones have been taken away. They do not get wages and payments. What they get is just an assurance of a lump –sum amount at the end of a three year contract.
In Rajasthan many workers have reportedly been trapped in life-long debt bondage for loans ranging with interest rates of as high as 24 to 36 per cent. They have to work as bonded labourers for little or no pay at all. There are instances of inter-generational transfer of debts as it is a common practice for immediate kin to replace an old and ailing worker. Debt bondage has also reportedly been used for sexual torture. The bridge between advance payment and slavery also exists in brick kilns in Odisha and Punjab. Poor people are forced to use their kidneys as collateral for money lenders in some parts of our country. In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India termed the denial of the principle of equal pay for equal work as “exploitative enslavement”. It is horrifying to see construction workers doing life-threatening jobs without having minimum safety protection and insurance coverage.
Shop assistants in some malls are made to work more than eight hours a day. They are being forced to hand over their mobile phones during working hours. Being totally disconnected, they cannot be with their families in a sudden difficult situation. Sometimes, they are not even allowed to visit the toilet. On other hand, the NGO Safai Karmachari Andolan has estimated that one sanitation worker dies every third day in our country. The transition from the formal employment system to the contractual system has enhanced the scope of exploitation like withholding of wages, debt bondage, holiday hijacking and even physical and sexual torture. Informal workers are highly vulnerable to exploitative practices as records of their contracts are not maintained, thereby giving ample opportunity to the employers to adopt use (and abuse the workers) and throw (the ailing ones) methodology. Moreover, two layered discriminations namely social stigmatization and economic marginalization are still prevalent in our country.
When will all of us be allowed to enjoy the ‘Fundamental Right against Exploitation’ as enshrined in Article 23 of the Constitution of India? Unfortunately, there are some amongst us that give tacit support to slavery and child labour. They should remember what Lincoln had once said, “Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”
Our Government needs to conduct monthly labour inspections and medical check-up of workers and upload the data of the contracts and the medical reports of the workers especially in high – risk industries like brick kilns, textiles and granite/ stone/ mineral industries. But we must also play a decisive role to wipe out the menace of slavery. We should all take the pledge of not visiting those houses and shops where the working class is getting inhuman and degrading treatment or a child labourer is employed. We need to upload such incidents on social media and help the administration take immediate action.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via email
In Gratitude
Editor,
On the occasion of International Day for Persons with Disabilities, I wish to pay tribute and acknowledge the contribution of the late Mr. Sajjid Ali of Dwar Jingkyrmen, Shillong and convey the sympathies of the people of Meghalaya and especially persons with disabilities and their families. We feel a great sense of loss on the passing away of the pioneer who, together with his family and the Dwar Jingkyrmen community promoted the rights and entitlements of youth and children with disability. The services and training facilities of the institution have quality and have inspired so many of us who came into the sector later. Mr. Ali was a brother, friend to me and always supported, no matter what the cost, any cause that promoted the dignity of persons with disability. On this day, I once again bow my head in tribute and thank the Almighty for giving so many an opportunity to meet such a wonderful human being, who knew no compromise and spoke without fear. We miss you, we pray for your family and the institution you built and may your wonderful soul Rest In Peace. May your memory continue to inspire us all.
Yours etc.,
Carmo Noronha,
Bethany Society, Shillong