Sharing Enquiry Report analysis

From: Citizens' Forum

Date: Sun, Jun 22, 2014 at 3:19 AM

Subject: Sharing Enquiry Report analysis

To: Director, IITK; Chairman of the Board, IITK

Dear Prof. Manna,

We hope this finds you well.

As part of our commitment and desire to see IITK as a safe place for workers, we want to highlight and discuss certain issues related to safety as well as accidents ensuing from lack of safety.

Lack of safety clauses in contracts:

We had written to Prof. Misra (Professor in charge Civil Construction) last autumn and have not had any concrete response. Recently we reminded him and sent a copy to you but have not heard from him. You have unequivocally stated your position on safety matters and we applaud this. We would very much like to hear the Institute’s plan of action in the matter of clearly including the safety clauses in the main body of the contracts or making reference to relevant documents that the contractor is obligated to abide by. Why were such clauses not included? Will the current contracts be revisited and modified? Will one require a new office order from the Director that all new contracts be very specific about safety clauses and ensuring that all workers (whether hired for one day or one year) will be given adequate training to do their work safely?

Absence of FIR reports in the case of death or injuries:

As we all know that there have been many deaths in last few years. To our deep consternation, we have learned that in most cases no FIR reports were filed. This has been confirmed by CPIO office in a letter dated November 27, 2013 obtained under RTI. We understand that this is a legal obligation on the part of employer for all deaths and injuries. Therefore, we would like to know as to why has this serious oversight occurred, and what has been (or will be) done in terms of procedures to prevent this from happening again?

Analysis of Enquiry Reports:

Citizens Forum of IITK alumni has taken the time to read all the Enquiry Committee reports after the deaths at IITK construction sites. We have found these reports to be incomplete, biased, display disregard for dignity of worker and are lacking credibility. Only exception was one report (prepared by the committee under Office Order DIR/IITK/2011/54-A dated 18.05.2011), which was credible and seemed to have provided a proper prognosis and the recommendations. The report had been prepared , by a committee of two professors and the Executive engineer of the Institute.  But this report was unfortunately ignored by the Institute. We would like to know why?

We have prepared an ‘Analysis of Enquiry Reports’ document, which we would like to present to you. We hope that you will urge all those concerned with such decisions to read our analysis. We sincerely hope that there will be no serious accidents and such Enquiry Committee Reports will not be necessary. But if it does happen , then any future enquiry reports will be more professional and in search of truth rather than putting blame on the workers or leaving on bad luck. And those responsible for lack of safety, lack of supervision and contractor will be held responsible and penalised.  In the spirit of dialogue, we are always open to your comments.

The following recommendations have been made (reproduced here from Analysis of Enquiry Report):

•  Alumni Association’s resolution on safety be implemented immediately [see Appendix 3]

• Enquiry of accidents should be conducted by multiple member committees including independent faculty and community members.

• The Institute or the contractor do not engage in cover-up by altering the accident scene

• All accidents should be reported as required by the law

• Institute should assist victim’s family to collect full and legal compensation. 

We should note that as the Director of the Institute, you have shown your good intentions in regards to the safety issue by appointing a safety officer and various professors in charge. We would now like to understand as to what steps have been taken so far by those responsible to rectify all the past improper practices and  shortcomings which have existed for so many years.

Sincerely,

Sushil Handa

On behalf of Citizens Forum of IITK alumni

Enclosures: Analysis of Enquiry Reports.pdf