The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Calling it a day

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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Calling it a day

Eminent physician Velidendla Hanumantha Rao opines that the Parliament should come out with something to tackle the long-term health problems faced by those employed for night shifts in BPOs all over the country. With many women working in BPOs on night duty complaining of health problems, there is need to take care of their health and also compensate them adequately with a long term health plan, he feels.

“I always advise them it is better to work during day for even Rs.5,000 rather than toil in a BPO all night and earn Rs.10,000 a month. For, it is difficult for the biological system to adjust to night shifts all through, particularly in the case of women,” he points out.

Dr. Hanumantha Rao’s timely advice comes at a stage when several women drawing even up to Rs.30,000 a month in BPOs on night shift have begun leaving the jobs to look for alternatives in the finance, banking and insurance sectors though it means they have to toil all day. “Yes, the attrition rate is high. It’s better than keeping wide awake all night and still take abuses from foreign customers. We return fatigued and sleep all day without even being able to wake up to take our food. In fact, we get up only when the cab driver knocks again at the door for the next night shift, and immediately rush to office. It can’t go on for long,” said a girl working as customer service executive.

Sure, life at a BPO can be different. They’re keen on calling it a day, nay, call it a night, sooner than later.

Habitat for wild elephants

The future of six elephants, which have settled down in North Andhra after migrating from Orissa’s Lakhari sanctuary, hangs in balance with the dropping of the proposal for a wildlife sanctuary in parts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram with a corridor for elephants.

The proposal mooted by Forest Minister Satrucherla Vijayarama Raju and strongly supported by environmental activists, was given a quiet burial, thanks to politicking by certain sections. The proposal mooted at the recommendation of Wildlife Institute of India was vetoed by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy himself when local reporters asked him about it at Srikakulam during a recent visit.

The proposal, if implemented, would have not only provided a comfortable habitat for the wild elephants but also helped in protecting thick cover of sal forest and panthers, sloth bear, sambar, pal civet, cheetal and wild dogs in the area.

Prabhakkar Sharma and Santosh Patnaik

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