Court to Games labourers’ rescue

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday warned the Delhi Government against ignoring the rights of the labourers involved in Commonwealth Games projects in their hurry to meet the deadline.

“You are in so much hurry. We are not finding fault with you. But do not forget the rights of the labourers,” said a Bench headed by the Chief Justice ordering appointment of a four-member committee to look into their welfare.

It will comprise a former UN Ambassador Arundhati Ghosh, the labour commissioner, labour secretary and a person associated with the NHRC.

The court was hearing a PIL on the plight of 17,000 labourers working day and night in rough weather to make Delhi a world-class city before the Games.

Basing its finding on two surveys, it said the labourers were working and living in highly deplorable conditions.

They earn lower than the stipulated wage and have no access to even the most basic sanitation and health facilities. They were not registered and without proper identity cards.

The court has directed a meeting of the committee on February 8.

Senior lawyer and human rights activist Colin Gonsalves appearing for the NGO told the Bench that the plight of the 1982 Asiad workers were also the same till the Supreme Court intervened on the same NGO’s petition and ordered improvement of their condition and increase wages.

Alleging that the Minimum Wages Act was being violated, he contended that while it was Rs 151 in Delhi, most of the workers at Commonwealth Games site was being given between Rs 100 and 114 and they were also not being paid for overtime

The PIL claimed that workers were not being provided proper safety equipment.

TQS suggesting Food Safety Guidelines for Commonwealth Games

Global Management System, have designed and developed a scheme after many discussions with the industry experts and government bodies and the independent surveys done by them.

Delhi 2010 is going to host Commonwealth Games in which large numbers of visitors including the participant from all corners of world are expected. With preparation for this event going on a very large scale in all the divisions such as infrastructure, transport, etc. the most important is the food sector or the food joints/restaurant in Delhi, NCR which will
be eventually serving food to all.

All the small and medium scale restaurants should take this event as an opportunity to maximize their business by increasing the number of people visiting them. This is possible by upgrading staff and system by getting trained in the food safety.

Those planning to visit Delhi during the Commonwealth Games-2010 can freely enjoy the famous Indian food in the capital as the government has decided to make elaborate arrangements to ensure food safety. "In a recent meeting of the food safety and standards authority, it was decided to identify 1,000 small and medium eating establishments in different parts of Delhi, which would be assisted to improve their levels of hygiene and safety to specified levels," a statement issued by the health ministry said.

"Standards of safety and hygiene would be developed and training undertaken through professional agencies. The identified and successful establishment would then be audited and certified to be of the required standards," it added. "They would also be given a suitable symbol and monitored periodically," the statement said. It is also proposed to bring out a directory of safe eating establishments to be distributed among the visitors.

"Training and capacity building would be undertaken by a panel of auditors and experts. Food samples would be tested periodically and a simplified standard will be developed against which the performance of the establishment will be evaluated," it added. These eating establishments would be identified in food clusters, covering different types of cuisine in the city.

"An appropriate logo will be devised and the entire scheme implemented with the support of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India," the ministry said. The government plans to undertake similar schemes in other cities to improve safety and hygiene of eating establishments.

With the Commonwealth Games just a year away, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Friday said all safety norms would be strictly adhered to in eateries and elsewhere during the event. Flagging off a walkathon and a food safety run at India Gate to commemorate World Food Day, Dikshit said: "We want to establish India as a safe food destination during the upcoming Games by adhering to food safety norms at all food serving establishments and at home." improvement

Organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the walkathon was themed as "Food Safety and Quality - India Prepares for Commonwealth Games 2010 K.N. Shenoy, chairman of the CII Institute of Quality, said: "This day's celebrations will further strengthen the quality movement in India. India should remain committed to the cause of food safety and quality by inculcating world class quality consciousness."

CII also distributed food safety guidelines among the scores of participants at the walkathon. The event saw senior citizens and schoolchildren, among others, taking part in the run and walkathon at India Gate.

About TQS Global Management System

TQS GLOBAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM offers technical consultancy in the field of Food safety. Food safety is a scientific discipline describing the handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. TQS GLOBAL's goal is to provide expertise in food safety, food quality management and all areas of crisis and recall management to companies, regulatory agencies and others on a national and international basis.

Malhotra blames Gill for delays in completion of stadia

President of General Association of National Sports Federations (GANSF) Vijay Kumar Malhotra Wednesday lambasted Union minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Manohar Singh Gill for taking credit for completion of work related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games and for passing the buck for failures.

Malhotra, who is also a vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), attacked Gill for all his omissions and commissions and self-condemning statements for the delays in the completion of various stadia and other infrastructure facilities.

"We got the Games in 2003. Why did not the government do anything to build the infrastructure and improve the condition of the Yamuna, slums, J.J. colonies and unauthorised colonies. These are the questions the Central and state governments will have to answer," he said.

Malhotra, who is leader of opposition in the Delhi state assembly, has also not spared Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, holding her responsible for the construction delays and the misuse of public money.

"Dr Gill seems always ready to jump to take all credit but pass the buck to other agencies when uncomfortable questions are raised. He is fast acquiring the reputation of 'rent-a-quote' minister," Malhotra told reporters here Wednesday.

Malhotra said the inordinate delay in the completion of the stadia and other infrastructure has caused irrevocable damage to the entire project.

He said taking advantage of the delays, money is being spent recklessly in sprucing up the city and asking for additional funds for the extravagance.

"The delay has not only caused escalation in the project costs, multiplying the expenditure beyond imagination but has also affected the preparation of the Indian contingent for the Games as it deprived the athletes of taking the home advantage by training at the facilities."

"Stop talking of making Delhi a world-class city and organising the best-ever Games to camouflage for throwing money in the name of beautifying the sidewalks," he said.

He was particularly livid with Gill and Dikshit for their neglect of the Yamuna river and then for shedding crocodile tears over its condition.

Not only the national sports federations but the people of India in general and Delhi in particular have the right to ask what has happened to the river on whose banks the Games Village is being constructed, thus virtually making it a drainage.

Malhotra wants to know where has all the money to clean the river gone.

The tall claims being made by the Delhi chief minister of making Delhi a world class city by spending more than Rs. 30,000 crore would go down the drain when an advisory is issued to all locals and foreigners not to swim or bathe in the great river."

"In this drainage we are going to showcase our national heritage to the visitors to the Games."