On Doctor’s Day, The Sip of Life today launches a new monthly column, The Other Side, which will provide an insight into the rural India. Dr. Rajat Chabba brings in a common man’s perspective through his actions and associations. Working in the not for profit sector, he adds spice from the other side of reality: the harsh one. A rural management graduate from IRMA, DRC, Chabba will bring to us some real stories with pictures from the other side of this country in his own words from his own lens, bringing us closer to what India of our dreams is…

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INSIGNIFICANT

I have killed men, I have seen them die. There is nothing glorious about it, nothing poetic.

-Hector in Troy

We heard this in the mega epic Troy and it encapsulates the motivation which drove me and my friends to visit Khambat, a hub of gem stone industry in Gujarat. This region is famous for its agate stone polishing. Polishing agate is predominantly a home based industry here, with more than 30,000 people engaged in this trade. In Shakarpur itself there are more than 800 workers involved in this profession. However, only 36 of them are registered as working in this industry. Being a completely unorganized sector the workers are susceptible to a disease called Silicosis.

Silicosis is a respiratory disease, which severely affects the lungs. It is caused by inhalation of the silica dust at workplace. Silicosis is a permanent condition, irreversible by any treatment. Medications only bring temporary relief to the affected person.

With time the pathological condition has entered into various spheres of the lives of people here, be it social, political or economic. Lack of alternate livelihood sources, exploitation of young widows, lack of growth opportunities, high expenditure, difficulty in finding a match, lack of political assistance and turning a blind eye to the happenings also, find their roots somewhere in the bed of silicosis and the silica trade. Even the children suffer from the disease due to continuous inhalation of dust.

Working for a minimal amount of Rs. 25 per 1000 pieces, the people form a small part of the big industry. Considering that Khambat and gem stones form a major part of our exports, these people have failed to get their due for decades.

The depth of the problem is expressed in the voice of one woman:

“My husband and his brother died due to respiratory troubles [silicosis], so I work as I have to feed my kids. I cannot get work anywhere else and here I can earn up to 1000 Rs a month. I know I will die in some years of the same disease but at least I won’t die of hunger.”

The presence of transportation facilities and health care setups fails to change the status quo. An ailing woman says it all:

“I am not able to walk even few metres now. I have difficulty in breathing and performing daily activities. Also, the doctor at the health centre (an intern) refused to visit me here even on repeated requests. Also, I have been told that I need to visit the nearby hospital. However, the cost of transportation is Rs. 60 and to afford this cost I have to work again. ”

The problem has penetrated into the social spheres with grooms finding it difficult the find brides, exploitation of widows, alcoholism due to frustration and the age old debt trap forcing people to continue in the same profession.

There have been ongoing interventions over the years from government, ngos, and department of occupational health but like a failed resuscitation, they have failed to revive the situation till now.

Experiencing the situation above, we should understand how lucky we are and respect what we have. However, the situation calls for all of us to be responsible and mature and help out such people. This is just one instance, there are numerous such stories from various spheres of India which remain hidden and untold. How often we fail to look at the other side. How often we fail to understand the plight of those insignificant few?

The answer lies within all of us. My experience has made me humble and responsible at my own level. I have realized, in the words of Norman Cousins:

Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live!!

Dr. Rajat Chabba is a Research and Communication Executive with a Tamil Nadu based NGO and will be writing this monthly column for The Sip of Life. His writings can be viewed at http://thesipoflife.com/the-other-side/ and he can be contacted at rajat@thesipoflife.com

DR RAJAT CHABBA