"Urban India didn't care about migrant workers till 26 March, only cares now because it's lost their services," P Sainath tells me in a detailed interview on the plight of migrant workers.
firstpost.com/india/urban-in…
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Do read via @firstpost
"How many English publications even bothered to give names of the workers crushed under the train? They just had to go faceless, and nameless. If it had been a plane crash, you would have helplines giving information."
"The rationale in leaving was absolutely sound. They know — and every hour we are proving — how untrustworthy, inconsiderate and cruel their governments, factory owners and middle-class employers like us are. And we are proving that with laws to restrict their freedom of movement
"We have always had one standard for the poor, and one for others. Even though, when you list essential services, you are finding out that it is only the poor people who are essential."
"I do believe the substantial number of migrant workers will come back to the cities. It will take a long time perhaps. But we have long ago destroyed the options they had in villages, ensuring our army of cheap labour."
The relaxations of labour laws "is an enslavement of labour. The states are essentially acting as a contractor, dalal procuring bonded labour for the corporations. Be sure this will affect the weakest sections — Dalits, Adivasis and women — the most."
"There is an old saying: When the poor become literate, the rich lose their palanquin bearers. Suddenly, we lost our palanquin bearers."
Do read the full interview for an eyeopening perspective.
Do read the full interview for an eyeopening perspective.
