Simultaneously, inside the workplace, it gave more power to brands. The Rana Plaza building collapse in bathtub glass screen 2013 led local and global trade unions, as well as over 220 international brands, to sign the five-year Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. According to an estimate, up to 94 per cent of the global supply chain’s workforce remains “hidden”.26 million workers were made safe with fire-rated doors, enclosed stairwells and fire alarm systems.  After a wage raise in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster, the government revised minimum wages in September 2018, which were rejected by workers.So, whose responsibility is it to ensure workplace safety — national governments and local stakeholders, or multinational enterprises (MNEs)? Indeed, MNEs cannot be absolved of responsibility for labour compliance in the global supply chain. The MNEs, however, get away without paying a fair price at the source. Though a higher number of unions were registered after the disaster, the trend has slowed down due to a cumbersome registration process.” The sourcing practices of international brands are instrumental in keeping wages down, it was stated in the report. Factory owners had to spend money to improve workplace safety. In January this year, the government clashed with the protesting workers. In the final analysis, it is incumbent on the state to care for its workforce and put its own house in order.The textile industry the world over poses many hazards to workers, such as musculoskeletal disorders and exposure to chemicals, dust, fibres, noise, vibration and dangerous machinery. But the workforce is very much visible: alive, kicking and sweating it out in the factories, and they belong to countries, to nation states. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure workplace safety through national safety regulations, along with inspection and compliance mechanisms.The accord became controversial.

The accord did not benefit workers at the lowest end of the supply chain, but did help the Bangladeshi garments industry to clean up its image and receive more orders. In early 2018, the accord was embroiled in litigation and the Bangladesh high court imposed a restraining order on it. Workplace governance remains weak, and the implementation machinery incapable of making industrial and commercial establishments comply with safety regulations. The brands put in money and governance structures, unions facilitated the process, the ILO acted as an observer and local factory owners cooperated and pitched in financially.The accord, a monitoring and inspection agency put up by mostly Europe-based brands and retailers, has generated debate in the industry, labour circles and academia. There has been no outcome of the plan. The MNEs are not concerned with this “hidden” workforce at all. South Asian states, however, tend to abdicate this crucial responsibility — which may result in workers losing their lives and limbs..According to analysts, Bangladeshi garment workers get below poverty level wages. A Transition Accord was signed to take effect from May 2018, extending the activities for another three years. Five years later, 1,600 factories employing 2.After the deadly Baldia factory fire in 2012, the Sindh government, the Employers Federation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Workers’ Federation devised a joint action plan for Promoting Workplace Safety and Health in Sindh (2013-2016) with the ILO’s support.

A researcher notes that the brands are “paying less for garments today than they did before Rana Plaza. After a few brief extensions by the appellate court to allow for negotiations between the accord’s brands, trade unions and the government, the court recently gave its final verdict: It will be phased out in February 2020 and its operations handed over to the RMG Sustainability Council, an independent national compliance monitoring system being set up by the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association. International brands stopped orders to about 500 factories that failed to take remedial measures. A 2019 Human Rights Watch report on the textile sector concedes that the government did not learn any lesson from the tragedy. In addition to mechanical and chemical hazards, fires pose the greatest risk, particularly in developing economies with substandard building structures.In Bangladesh — the world’s second-biggest exporter of ready-made garments — workers have suffered from numerous industrial accidents.

Though police forces were deployed at the site, the villagers scuffled with the district officials and cops to stop the tree cutting process.Bhubaneswar: The anti-liquor movement in Odisha further intensified after hundreds of villagers, including men, at Balarampur village under Sadar block in Dhenkanal district jostled with police protesting felling of trees in a nearby forest for establishment of a beer factory.. Besides, the agitating women were also seen guarding the trees by wrapping their arms around the same.

State finance and excise minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said the land allocated to a liquor company by IDCO for setting up of a beer factory. After getting information, hundreds of men and women of the village rushed to the spot holding sticks to protest and had a face-off with the cops.Later, the police detained 11 villagers Drop-in Bathtubs suppliers from the spot to dispers the mob. He assured that the government would plant triple the volume of treesOn Saturday morning, police and district collector visited the site for acquisition of land.The incident took place when the Dhenkanal district administration began the process of tree felling to acquire land for the proposed liquor plant. Sources said the forest houses around 958 big trees of various species.

Chief minister Adityanath has also asked the state government to acquire five acres of land near Gorakhpurs Ramgarh Taal and develop a water sports complex and auditorium.The Gorakhpur Development Authority has already undertaken a survey of the entire lake and the surrounding area, official sources said.Other projects that have been finalised and are in various stages of taking off include Gorakhpur metro and a branch of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).SP spokesman Sunil Singh Sajan said, "The BJP bitterly criticised us for developing Sefai and now that all resources are being diverted to Gorakhpur, they owe an answer to the people".The state government is also working overtime to improve the power situation and ensure 24 hour power supply.Special focus is on the 4,000-odd families from the Vantangiya community that lives in forest areas in Gorakhpur and adjoining Maharajganj districts as it has been deprived of basic facilities like school, hospitals and power supply since independence.

It may be recalled that Sefai, the native village of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and party patriarch Mulayam Yadav had emerged as the hub of development in the previous government.Officers are now clamouring for a posting in the saffron-clad chief ministers district since it would automatically mean increased proximity to Mr Adityanath who visits his home district almost every week. Efforts are also being made to improve the quality of water supply in Gorakhpur city.Special treatmentYogi govt is working on reviving a shut fertilizer factory by 2019.Earlier this land had been allocated to the education department to set up a library and research centre.According to Adityanath, he wants to change the identity of Gorakhpur. The special focus on Gorakhpur has refreshed memories of how Sefai, the native village of the Mulayam Singh Yadav, was pampered by the previous Samajwadi Party regime.Mr Adityanath, who recently visited a Vantangiya village said that it will be accorded the status of revenue village, that will government investment."When I first became MP, Gorakhpur was known as the crime capital of northern India and I took the support of social organisations, traders and youth to counter the mafia.

This land will be given to the tourism department which will develop it as a tourist destination that will also boost the economy of eastern UP.Like Sefai, Gorakhpur now tops the priority of the BJP-led state government which has already revived many old projects and drawn a blueprint for new ones. Closed sugar mills will be restarted & a new LPG bottling plant is plannedFive acre land has been acquired near Gorakhpurs Ramgarh taal to develop a water sports complex and an auditoriumBeautification of parks, broadening of roads and drinking water projects to fight encephalitis are also under wayOfficials are working overtime to ensure 24 hour electric supply in the power-starved area. Now, I want that Gorakhpur should be known as a developed zone," he told officials at a meeting recently. A new LPG bottling plant is also on the cards. The fertilizer factory is all set to be revived by 2019.To further strengthen the law and order situation, state director general of police has sent a proposal to open 24 new police stations in districts, coming under the "Gorakhpur zone". He also asked officials to ensure development in other villages with sizeable population of this community, which Bathroom bathtub lives in forests."Besides these projects, beautification of parks, broadening of roads, redevelopment of Ramgarh taal and availability of potable water to check water-borne Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) are also being undertaken", said a senior official in the chief ministers secretariat.

Amid high official focus on Gorakhpur, the state government is working on the revival of a fertilizer factory that has been shut for several years. Vantangiya community, brought from Burma now Myanmar for afforestation during the colonial rule, got voting rights in September.The annual Sefai Mahotsav was one of the biggest cultural events organised there in which the government machinery was blatantly used.Lucknow: Nine months after Yogi Adityanath took over as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, his home district Gorakhpur is witnessing an unprecedented drive for a makeover. Revival of closed sugar mills in the area are also a priority area.

Mr Ruia, now in custody of the CID, with the Barrackpore court Sunday rejecting his bail plea while also granting the agency 14 more days to keep him in its custody for further interrogation, had to on Monday go through separate rounds of questioning by officials at Bhawani Bhavan, sources said.Chairman, Ruia Group of Dunlop India, jacuzzi shower enclosures Pawan Ruia has been summoned by the CID four times in the past in connection with its probe into the theft and fire at the Jessop factory, but each time he had failed to appear.Kolkata: The Calcutta high court on Monday directed Railway and state authorities to inspect the premises of the Jessop factory and make an inventory of materials by December 16 in connection with a case alleging police inaction by the unit’s management over access to the premises some time ago. Lawyer for the firm, Shudhhaswatta Banerjee told the high court that Jessop had no objection in handing over the goods to the Railways..Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that a three-member team comprising director (stores) of Indian railways, district magistrate of North 24 Parganas and additional director general of police (CID) to conduct the inspection of the goods, take them into possession and submit a report to him by December 19.The ruling came during the hearing in the case filed by the railways, which had earlier alleged of the violation of contract by Jessop & Co Ltd of Dunlop India by failing to supply the rakes although goods worth Rs 50 crore were supplied to the company.