A Call to justice & accountability
Editor,
Having read the deeply unsettling report detailing the horrifying incident involving a businessman’s morbid crime against his wife, I find myself compelled to react.
In the shadow of recent events, where a man’s brutality knows no bounds, we find ourselves confronted with a chilling reality: a web of power, manipulation, and moral bankruptcy that threatens the very foundation of our society. The incident, where Suresh P Singh ruthlessly stabbed his wife in the presence of their daughter, is a stark reminder of the depths to which humanity can sink.
The daughter’s courageous testimony has shattered the facade of decency, revealing the grim truth that lies beneath. What is even more disconcerting is the illegal shield thrown around the accused, Suresh P. Singh, a member and Director of the Shillong Club, who brazenly exploits his connections with high-ranking government officials and police officers. This exploitation of influence is not just morally reprehensible but a testament to the decay within our institutions.
Equally troubling is the deliberate omission of crucial IPC sections in this case. The absence of charges related to the attempt to murder, despite the daughter’s harrowing account of her mother’s near-fatal ordeal, raises alarming questions about the integrity of our legal system. It is a glaring example of how influential individuals manipulate the very laws meant to protect us, leaving justice gasping for air.
What adds to this distressing narrative is the revelation of the accused’s immoral escapades, bringing other women into his home and subjecting his wife to psychiatric medication, only to prove that she is mentally unstable. Our society is being twisted and contorted by those who parade as upstanding citizens, while in truth, they are nothing more than vultures preying on the vulnerable.
In the wake of this heinous incident, it is crucial to highlight the grave state of the victim, who, after undergoing surgery, now lies in the Intensive Care Unit of the Civil Hospital. Her condition serves as a stark reminder of the severity of the crime committed against her. The courage she displayed, not only in surviving this brutal assault but also in her pursuit of justice for so many years, resonates deeply with our shared humanity. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that her fight for justice does not go unanswered, and that those responsible for this heinous act are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
In the face of such heinous acts, we must not succumb to apathy. The immediate suspension of the Police Officer who tampered with evidence and coerced the daughter into silence is imperative. This officer’s relationship with a high-ranking official, a close associate of the accused, raises serious doubts about the fairness of the investigation. Justice demands transparency, not clandestine alliances that undermine the very essence of the law.
I urge local NGOs and Women’s Groups to rally behind the victim, offering her the support and strength she needs to navigate this daunting journey for justice. The indomitable spirit she has shown in the face of adversity deserves our utmost respect and unwavering solidarity. It is through our collective determination to stand against this moral decay that we can begin to rebuild the trust we once had in our institutions.
Yours etc.,
John Thabah,
Via email
70-hour week work schedule
Editor,
The editorial “Work more, earn more” (ST October 30, 2023) proposes 70 hrs work a week by a gentleman who quit his job in 1981 and borrowed Rs 10,000 from his wife to start Infosys and in a span of only four years grew to be a tech giant employing two lakh (2,00,000) people and making Bangalore an Information Technology hub. Little did this gentleman know that his company would go on to become India’s second largest Information Technology company with annual earnings of Rs 21,539 crores in 2019 (The Economic Times). It is a proposal worth emulating. But is it possible for a country like India where the standard working week for most office jobs begins on Monday and ends on Saturday?
The work schedule is 48 hours per week. However, most government offices and the software industry follow a five-day workweek. All major industries along with services like transport, hospitality, healthcare etc. work in shifts. Central government offices follow a five-day week. State governments follow half-day working on the first and third Saturdays of each month and rest on the second and fourth Saturdays, except West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra government which follows a Monday–Friday workweek. There is usually no half working day in the private sector, and people work in two or three shifts of 8 hours each.
Around the world, the average workweek ranges from less than 40 hours in length to close to 50 hours. High Income and /or developed countries with a cultural emphasis on work/life balance and adequate leisure/ family time generally have shorter official workweeks (some short as four days) and more vacation days. These countries also trend toward more generous overtime compensation, more worker friendly regulations, more favourable parental leave laws, and an increased chance of landing on the list of the world’s happiest countries. By contrast, countries with longer workweeks, fewer worker protections, and reduced amenities often rank as hard-working countries, but also tend to have a populace that is less happy and possibly overworked. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) tracks a wide number of labour statistics, including hours actually worked per week by both employees and employed people. These two terms would be interchangeable in most cases, they have different meanings with regard to labour statistics.
Employees are people serving either full-time or part-time in a traditional employment arrangement. Employed people, by comparison, include not only the aforementioned traditional employees but also self-employed individuals. The Economic History Association points out, determining the average hours worked per workweek in a given country compared to another can be a challenging task due to differing philosophies on what activities qualify as work and who is considered a worker. However, with enough data to compile and consider, trend do emerge. As a rule, more high-income countries such as Germany and France enjoy shorter workweeks than do middle-income and developing countries. It is likely that work weeks in the low-income and least-developed countries are the longest of all, at least for those people who can find work, but reputable data are often difficult to obtain.
Perhaps, people who are self-employed (entrepreneurs) who have the grit to work can practice the proposal of Mr Narayan Murthy. It is wonderful that the Holy Bible has this to say about work. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat” This command in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 is often interpreted as a call to work and contribute to society. It is also a reminder that we should not be idle and rely on others for our sustenance. Instead, we should work hard and earn our livelihood. This verse is part of a larger passage in which Paul, the author of the epistle, urges the Thessalonians to lead a disciplined life and avoid idleness. He also warns them against associating with those who are disorderly and refuse to work.
These verses if we cannot work for 70 hrs a week provide guidance on how we should approach our work and labour. They emphasize the importance of working hard and being diligent in our efforts. They also remind us that our work should be done with a sense of purpose and meaning
Yours etc.,
V.K.Lyngdoh,
Via email