Chimney deaths unreported

It is either big, or it is sad.

Reference is my previous post, and some valid reactions, as a string, of Structural Engineers which can be found in an online Structural Engineering forum in India, also known as (SEFI).

Chimney collapse

As I am on my laptop doing something else, Zee news gives a breaking news that a chimney some thirty kilometers away from Jhansi has collapsed. Indeed breaking news.

Around fifty to sixty construction site workers, in popular culture known as 'labourers' are buried. There is no Search and Rescue provision around.

I recall John Lennon once saying in his one album ... "Apathy is not the answer".

This is worse.

Cheenk Wala Bhai

Lal Bhai has been sellin Bamboo blinds for almos' last twenty-five years. Summers will ensure better business, so these days I usually don’t find him around at his reception. He must be running around (literally) chasing and fulfilling orders made by his clients. He says, annually he would earn about 50,000 Rupees as profit selling just cheenks (bamboo blinds) of a few types he is good at. This money is enough for him to fend for his family. He is middle aged but his curious eyes will easily escape the protective thick layers of his glasses frame and lenses. He might tell you more, if you befriend him.

His reception and business area is, where his wife keeps her grand, or perhaps grander daughter or son covered by her traditional chunari to keep off the air pollutants or the dust, is a newly done futpath by the Municipal Corporation (City civic authority). He says he is fine here and doesn’t feel any need to move to a shop because he doesn’t need to pay any bills or taxes. Just give local corporation guys or local cops some good heart money for chai-paani. The local cops who used to harass him earlier have also ceased to do so because their interaction has turned into aquaintance over the years. Once in a month, a Municipal Corporation contracted lifting truck will put an act on show that it is removing Lalbhai and likes from the city spaces. However, since this is only an act, half an hour later they will return to the same futpath. All understand. All have to coexist. Lalbhai is cool about it too – he will move away if he eventually has to.

Tell me or this - how cheaper, easier and reliable can enterprise get? Lalbhai makes his deliveries almost in time, delay might be for a day or two maximum. His bamboo chinks, which is bought from him is much more value-for-money than a typical franchisee shop run on top-down business model.

You can try calling him on his mobile phone in India (0) 96382 36396 - informal business.