BIRESH KUMAR, a 38-year-old labourer, works at least six hours in the sun every day. Though it is only mid-April-early days of summer in north India-the afternoon temperatures hover around 38°C in Bhopani, the village in Haryana's Faridabad district where Kumar works at a brick kiln. When the summer peaks in May-June, the mercury will likely cross 40°C. "I feel like I'm trapped in a heat island. But I have to work to repay a debt I owe to the labour contractor," says Kumar.
Sitting on a cot under a tree at some distance is Kumar's co-worker Somveer. For the past two days, Somveer has had body ache, weakness and fever, which have forced him to miss work and, as a result, forego his wage. He does not know the reason for his condition, but says it could be due to constantly working under the sun. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, US, recommends that those who work in the heat should consume 237 ml of water every 15-20 minutes. But for workers like Kumar and Somveer, that would mean more breaks and missed targets, resulting in a loss of wage. Neeraj Kaushik, medical officer in-charge at the government hospital in Kheri Kalan that Somveer and Biresh have access to, says he sees several labourers with complaints of fainting episodes. "They are weak and dehydrated, with severely chapped lips. If they have comorbidities, like diabetes, it becomes an emergency situation. If their vitals are weak, it takes a long time to resuscitate them," he says.
Esta historia es de la edición May 01, 2024 de Down To Earth.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 01, 2024 de Down To Earth.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
THE ALCHEMY OF EMOTIONS - SL'OTH
As with all personality traits, laziness is a combination of genes and environment
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - WRATH
Anger is an emotional programme, a part of natural selection that helps us bargain for better treatment
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - GLUTTONY
We have been captured by food and it is driving us to do something that is arguably not good for us
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - ENVY
Envy gives people a fundamental desire for a higher social rank
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS-L'UST
Love, lust, attachments are basic brain circuits. They are too primitive a system and will never change
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - GREED
Evolutionary biology sees greed as a way to increase your chances of survival
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS
I felt for the tormented whirlwinds Damned for their carnal sins Committed when they let their passions rule their reason
INVISIBLE THREAT
Significant presence of microplastics in Puducherry’s agricultural soil raises concerns for soil and crop health
Feeding off each other
VEGETARIAN MOVEMENTS IN SOUTH ASIA AND THE WEST GREW WITH MUTUAL SUPPORT AND VALIDATION
India's unhealthy patent amendments
Despite strong pleas, the Modi regime has changed the rules to impose a cost on those who challenge faulty patents