On the death of the households bread winner, the only
hope of a family of four, a mother, two sisters and an infant brother, was a smart but ill-nourished, good looking lad, Ram
Gopal, who has just seen eighteen summers Illiterate he was. But not indignant and irresponsible. He smilingly l took the burden of running the family, and for
that he took to rickshaw pulling.
His father, who was a rickshaw puller, died of tuberculosis,
quite natural, as his poverty did not allow him for proper medical care being beyond his reach. Ram Gopal was the only hope
of entire family. He too opted to rickshaw pulling for survival. Ram Gopal, with a rickshaw on rental, worked unduly long
hours to earn as much to break even the minimum needs of his family. He with vigor of his youth and will to hard labor, managed
to get his sisters married. Joy and happiness he did not to share with any, but he had his woes and worries, which he had
to share. A young lady from another poor family was there to shoulder those- his wife.
Time went by. Ram Gopal too grew old with accompaniments
of ill-health and ailments. His condition worsened. And finally, his soul also bade farewell to his beloved rented rickshaw
and a considerably large family of his won still on the perils of life.
Unlike Ram Gopal, Hari was working in a small-unorganized
restaurant. He was to work from dawn to midnight at stretch. Lighter work when compared to that of Ram Gopal rickshaw pulling
but without break or holidays. A spell / illness reduced the size of his otherwise meager pay packet. When ill, he had virtually
to beg for medical expenses, which his employer very often refused. Above two cases are not isolated instances. They are typical
anecdotes from the real life of many a fellow being. Some suitable social security measures are very much warranted in such
cases so the otherwise eternal poor and aggrieved with miniscule or rather entire lack of living conditions are helped out.
I understand. ILO had been fighting hard for the right of workers. These benefits are availed
only by industrial workers, who are covered under industrial relations Acts
