Safeguarding Northeast; Sustainable Himachal: Regulating Gigworkers
Opinion watch
Safeguarding Northeast
In the backdrop of the exodus of the Meitei tribe people from Manipur, The Asian Age in its Editorial has opined that it’s an unacceptable failure on the part of the Centre and the states in not restoring peace in the violence-torn state. The new Delhi-based daily underlined that the diversity of the people is a bedrock of the Indian Constitution, which also applies for the Northeast. The daily reminded that the Article 371 was crafted to ensure fulfilment of the aspirations of diverse population of the Northeast.
That Manipur still battles ethnic violence, and victims of horrific incidents are still without any support from the state speak volume for anarchy in the Northeastern state bordering Myanmar.
Sustainable Himachal
The Tribune in its Editorial has warned that the horrors of the heavy rains and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh be not forgotten and sustainable tourism policy should safeguard the interests of the hilly state. “There’s not an iota of ambiguity that such occurrences are payback for unsustainable, illogical and unscientific construction activities. Two weeks on, reports continue to emerge of houses destroyed or rendered unsafe, landslides and shattered roads in Himachal,” opined the Chandigarh-based daily.
Unchecked construction activities in Himachal Pradesh had seen habitations and hotels coming up within the earshot of rivers and riverbeds. Rivers must be freed from encroachments on a war=footing.
Regulating Gigworkers
The Economic Times in its Editorial has welcomed the decision of the Rajasthan government to create the regulatory framework for gigworkers, estimated to be 7.7 million and to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30. The business daily quoted the study of TISS to state that 60 per cent of the gigworkers wok for seven days, while many complain of income loss, while being outside the social security net.
Long ago Delhi government had also come out with a cess to fund a welfare body for the construction workers and years later such workers never gained anything from the initiative. Gigworkers represent an unorganised sector, working right under the nose of the government amid policy vacuum.
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