Security has always been one of man's necessities. Right from our ancestors who used to

bar the entrance of their cave dwellings with logs or a large stone to the modern era of the

motion sensor detectors, man has constantly developed and modernized the methods used

to provide security for his possessions, especially for his home.

Perhaps the earliest way man had discovered to protect himself and his belongings

was the guard dog. Dogs have, since time immemorial, been man’s best friend. Highly

adaptive, possessing superior intelligence and extremely loyal, the canine have long

been entrusted with the charge of guarding his master’s property. The most prolific and

suitable security dog breeds are arguably the Rottweiler, the German Shepherd and the

Scottish Terrier. There are a few specific reasons for this. All these breeds are excitable

and will bark vigorously at the presence of an intruder or in most situations that they

think are out of the ordinary. Even today, dogs are a preferred method for security as they

provide companionship too.

Door locks are one of the primary components of any home or office. Having a good

lock ensures us varying degrees of security from intrusion. Degree of security depends

largely on the type and kind of locking system used. The most common kinds of lock

used is the deadbolt, the wedge and the knob lock. The deadbolt is the most favored one

as it provides the maximum degree of security. It has a distinct advantage over the spring-

bolt system in that the deadbolt is considerably heavier and cannot be forcibly pried or

`jimmied` by an intruder. Most deadbolts require the correct key, which moves the bolt to

the `open` position, opening the lock. A common variation is the vertical deadbolt, which

can be used for added security, as the vertical position of the lock prevents it from being

forced open by using a bar or another object between the lock and the doorframe.

Door phones have been popular and widespread in use in many offices, homes and

apartment buildings due to its simplicity of installation and versatility of use. The ability

to identify the person requesting access to your premises has always been a crucial

one. Door phones provide this facility employing intercom technology. Using this, a 2-

way conversation can be initiated, giving the concerned person the option to allow or

deny access. Door phones have evolved from voice models to video models which are

available in the market today. Video models allow the person inside to actually see the

person requesting access, and thus provide added security.

Perhaps the most serious non-human threat to a building or structure is damage incurred

due to fire. More so nowadays, as most buildings and apartments contain multiple

connections for electricity, gas and various other electrical connections. Any one of these

can be considered a hazard, if leakages or breakages occur. In case of such occurrences,

the best method to avoid loss of life or property is the installation of a smoke and fire

alarm system. The fire alarm system is basically classified into two categories – the

manual and the automatic versions. Manual devices work on the premise that the fire

has been discovered by an occupant of the building. The alarm can then be activated

by either pushing a button or pulling a lever, triggering an audio response, in effect

warning everyone in the premises. Automatically activated devices can take many forms

intended to respond to any number of detectable physical changes associated with fire:

convected thermal energy; heat detector, products of combustion; smoke detector, radiant

energy; flame detector, combustion gasses; carbon monoxide detector and release of

extinguishing agents; water-flow detector. The newest innovations can use cameras and

computer algorithms to analyze the visible effects of fire and movement in applications

inappropriate for or hostile to other detection methods.

One of the most widely used and popular methods of security today in the CCTV.

Abbreviated for Closed Circuit Television, CCTV has gained tremendous popularity

due to its capability for both real-time and recorded footages. Perhaps this is why it has

become a fixture in law enforcement agencies and security details around the world.

CCTVs all work on the basic principle of transmitting images and videos taken by

cameras or video recorders from the point of origin to a central monitoring area, normally

manned by security personnel.

The motion sensor detector is a tool used by security specialists around the world. It

involves a motion sensor that transforms the detection of motion into an electric signal.

This can be achieved by measuring optical or acoustical changes in the field of view.

There are various types of detectors including the Passive Infrared Sensor, which detects

emission of body heat to identify an intruder, Ultrasonic Sensors, which sends out pulses

and measures the reflection off a moving object and the Microwave Sensor, which sends

out microwave pulses and measures the reflection off a moving object.

Many offices and establishments have adopted the card entry system and the keypad

identification system to monitor entry into their premises.

Most cards used for passcard entry have a magnetic stripe on it. This stripe contains

information about the user and other data which is written with the help of an encoder. It

works on the principle of varying magnetic fields. A card reader can read the information

on the card using these fields present on the card, thus allowing or denying access to the

user.

The Keypad Identification System employs numeric or alphanumeric keypads that

require the user to enter a required sequence of characters, which is then compared to a

database and if matching, allows access to a particular area. The advantage of this system

is that the person holding the required sequence has to reveal the information in order to

gain access. In other words, no one can gain access without the prior knowledge of the

primary user.

The card entry system and the keypad identification systems are preferred methods

of security in an establishment, as they can be configured and designed to restrict and

manage access for a user for different levels. Thus, a person using a card or having a

keypad combination does not necessarily gain access to the entire facility. His passcard or

password can be preset to allow only certain areas.

The most popular and commonly used security measure designed for the home is the

Burglar Alarm System. This system employs most of the technologies described above,

with the added functionality to trigger a silent or non-silent response at the local or

a remote station. The principle used here is that the owner of the house activates the

alarm when going out, or while sleeping. A combination of motion sensors and door-

entry detectors detect any unauthorized intruders and set off the alarm. The alarm can be

custom-set to flash lights, produce loud sound or trigger an alarm at the nearest police

station. The burglar alarm system can easily be deactivated by using a passkey or a

passcode.

Mrs. Patel lives in Calcutta and makes her weekly trips to her local supermarket armed with a supply

of paper bags. Ask her why she prefers them to the plastic reusable bags given at the market and

she replies “ Someone once told me that plastic takes thousands of years to decompose. Just doing

my bit for the environment! ” Rajiv Agarwal from New Delhi has recently switched all the lights in his

house from regular incandescent ones to fluorescent bulbs. He explains “ Regular bulbs consume more

electricity and produce very little of light. “ Do a little research and we find that he`s right. Incandescent

light bulbs use up huge amounts of power and on an average, generate just around ten percent of the

energy as light. The rest is emitted as heat. Fluorescent bulbs, on the other hand, use up to sixty to

seventy five percent of the consumed energy as light.

Mr. Agarwal and Mrs. Patel are just a few examples of ordinary people “going green” in our society

today. In a era where the environment and global climate scenario has captured the attention of

the public in a big way, more and more people are coming forward with doing their bit to save the

environment. It is in this context that the term “Green Technology” was born.

Green Technology refers to the conception and application of science to curb the use of natural

resources and implement a widespread use of alternative and recyclable energy sources, and in the

process, curbing and limiting the harmful effects brought on by continued use of fuels like fossil fuels.

The primary objective behind this technology is sustainability.

This coming-of-age technology primarily inculcates two major policies at its core. One is the reduction

and negation of the effects of byproducts of traditional fuel sources. Second is the implementation of

new advances in technology and alternative energy sources to replace existing ones.

Reduction and cleaning up of waste and harmful particles in the environment encompasses factors like

Solid Waste Management, Water Purification and Sewage disposal, Item Recycling and Environment

Decontamination. Solid waste management involves handling and processing of solid garbage produced

by humans. Methods for this include incinerators, recycling and dumps. The earliest known methods

simply consisted of digging pits and burying waste. However, as society progressed and communities

became larger, the amount of waste produced increased and the space for pits decreased. In

contemporary times, public management systems have implemented regular collection and disposal of

garbage, ensuring safe elimination. Water recycling strategies involve two basic processes – recycling

without purification and recycling without purification. Recycling without purification is used for several

agricultural processes in industries and in household purposes where human consumption is not

required. A good example of this would be garden usage and irrigation. Recycling with purification clearly

indicates processing of water to be used for potable purposes. These may include drinking, cooking

purposes and others. Sewage disposal is the ultimate return of waste water to the environment. Waste

water, before disposal, is suitable treated and processed to facilitate elimination of harmful substances

that could potentially destroy the disposal points.

Development of new materials and technologies to implement changes in the consumption of existing

fuel sources has been a major turning point in the progress of biotechnology. Examples of this include

usage of materials like zirconium, yttrium, tellurium and other rare earths. A good instance would be the

widespread change from lead to lithium in batteries.

The Green revolution has triggered a lot of advancements in technology, notably in companies

manufacturing and producing eco-friendly products in the market today. A very good example is the

production of building bricks from flyash, which is a byproduct of coal-burning. This process promises

to use around 85% less energy as the contemporary sources, with an equivalent reduction of carbon

emissions. Solar energy promises a huge advantage in terms of reducing power wastage, air pollution

and carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. One producer of zero-harmful emissions is the use

of nuclear reactors. Already wide-spread in use, nuclear energy is probably the single most abundant

and potentially permanently sustainable source of non-pollutant energy today. An example of materials

science playing a part in eliminating production of green house gas causing air pollutants is in the use

of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). SOFCs are electrochemical power plants that some believe will power

automobiles in the future because they produce no air pollutants in the process. However, because they

still rely on hydrocarbons as their energy source, they do not eliminate generation of CO2 emissions.

This would require the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure which is often discussed but is not being

seriously proposed at this time due to both safety concerns and the cost to produce, store and transfer

hydrogen.

In this context, it is heartening to know that industries in India have taken a long and serious view of

going green. The oldest industrial house in India, TATA, has already made giant strides in this direction.

Chairman Ratan Tata says, “We have embarked on a group-wise initiative to create awareness and

implement eco-friendly processes wherever it is possible and, in fact, look at some of our older processes

to see how we can ensure that they are in compliance with the state-of-the-art exhibits. This is going

to be a long and expensive journey and we are fairly committed to it.” Among its ventures are its hotel

chains, which features eco rooms which will have energy-efficient mini bars, organic bed linen and

napkins made from recycled paper, and the all new Indica EV, an electric car that will run on polymer

lithium ion batteries.

You`re in the enemy territory, holding your sniper rifle, scanning the horizon for hostile activity. From

the darkness, a new shadow emerges, stealthily moving towards your position. You raise the rifle, aim

for the intruder and squeeze the trigger. The recoil of the gun, the crack of the shot and the sudden

plummet of the shadow tells you that you have found your mark.

You`ve entered the main living room. You go through the arched mezzanine and peek into the master

bedroom. But something`s not right. The door frame ought to be at least half a foot higher. You make a

mental note to talk to your architect and proceed to walk through the rest of the house.

Fairly straightforward scenarios, both of these. In one, you`re a vigilant soldier on patrol duty. In the

other, you`re inspecting your new house. The strange thing in both these scenarios is that neither one

actually exists. There is no gun, nor is there a house. You are just seeing thinking there is, when in fact,

the whole scenario is just made up on demand. This, in a nutshell, is the world of virtual reality.

Virtual Reality, or VR, as it is commonly known, is the one of the most modern advancements in the

world of computer simulations and environments. It is basically defined as a computer generated

realistic creation of a world which exists only in imagination. A person experiencing this world is able to

sense, feel and interact with this imaginary world as if he were traversing a real environment. The overall

experience the user gains is the ability to navigate through, and perform functions with this artificial

scenario with the luxury of not needing to have the real environment. In this article, we take a look at

the development and practical uses of visual reality technology.

In the early 1960s, the US Air Force was looking for ways of training pilots in the art of flying while trying

to negate the risk of training accidents or mishaps. They hit upon a way to accomplish this end. Mockups

of cockpits were constructed with computer screens and speakers inside to provide realistic flying

situations for the trainee pilots to handle. Later in the 1970s, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

(MIT) created a computer program which could simulate an entire city, including realistic effects such

as street traffic and birds flying overhead. This was the time when the term Virtual Reality came into

prominence.

A virtual reality system works primarily on the concept of user immersion and interaction. Immersion

is the feeling of being an actual part of a world. When the user negotiates and takes meaningful actions

in this world, it is referred to as interaction. The sense of both immersion and interaction is known as

telepresence. For this purpose, the user usually has various devices such as a headset or a wired glove

for input purposes. Head-mounted displays are common in these scenarios as they can easily construct a

fully 3D environment. An immersive experience suffers if a user becomes aware of the real world around

him. Truly immersive experiences make the user forget his real surroundings, effectively causing the

computer to become a non entity. These limitations are fast becoming no more as graphical software

and better data processing hardware gets developed at a rapid pace. The critical part about VR is that

the user should be able to affect the virtual environment, thereby modifying the program, as he sees

fit. Only then does a truly interactive experience occur. This is done by sensors directly linked to the

user`s senses, which in turn detects changes done to the program in the virtual world, and consequently,

generates an appropriate response to that action, in effect, changing the graphics or dimensions of that

environment. Early VR systems relied mainly on the basic senses of hearing and seeing to reproduce

an element of authenticity in the artificially created world. But as technology gets more advanced,

researchers and scientists have included the sense of touch as an input method. Systems that give a user

force feedback and touch interaction are called haptic systems. This technology has enormous obvious

advantages insofar as the user can now truly interact with the program, paving the way for development

of numerous practical applications.

Virtual Reality is now a popular tool among the world`s military training facilities, its reasons being

pretty clear. Trainers and trainees are now able to design experience real-time tactical and strategic

maneuvers and hone critical field skills without the risk of being in a real hostile environment.

Architectural engineers have used VR to simulate building specifications and practicability. The video

gaming community has been using this technology to a large extent in improving gaming experiences by

providing more realistic 3D effects. The medical arena has profited immensely from VR technology, using

it to simulate training sessions for surgeries and other medical procedures.

Virtual Reality systems have not become an everyday application today, but considering the immense

potential of this growing technology and the expansion of electronic networking of the world today, the

day may not be far off where a large part of our industries may be using it to a very large extent.

Visitors, both domestic and foreign, to our country’s historic and picturesque spots have

always been fascinated by the rich and vibrant history that make up the grandiose and

lore of the land. Though most of these sightseers are often drawn to the more popular

sites like Agra or Ooty, there are doubtless many more scenic and breath-taking vistas

to explore in our vast nation. A fully paid-up member of this category is the Pattumala

Church and Monastery in Kerala.

Nestled in the magnificent Nilgiri mountains bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the name

Pattumala literally means “Silk Mountain” (Pattu – silk, mala – mountain). The whole

countryside is a kaleidoscope of tea garden estates, steep cliffs and winding mountain

fresh springs. Rich undulating slopes, cool refreshing breezes, tea-scented whispers of

wind and the sunny yet chilly climate is the traveler’s paradise. Small wonder that it

has been called the “Ooty of Kerala”. Rising more than three thousand meters above

sea level, this location is indeed a sight to behold. Among others, the aromas of pepper,

cloves and cardamom also add that extra spice to the area. Though rich in tourist spots

and scenic wonders, no visit can ever be complete without a tour of the grand old church

of the land – Pattumala Church.

Locally known as a famous pilgrim center of late, the Pattumala Church sits squarely

on the top of a hill overlooking the town of Peermade. The art style of construction

is classical Gothic in nature. The most curious fact about this structure is that it is

made entirely from granite. Not a stick of wood or side of brick has been used in its

construction. As with most historical buildings, the Church has gone through various

stages of refurbishing and expansion before reaching its final look in 1989.

In the early 1960-s, it was a time when Christian missionaries were venturing into the

inlands of Kerala spreading the faith of Christ. It was a normal practice to find a serene

location, build some temporary lodgings and live in service to the local populace. So

it was that the Franciscan order of Missionary Brothers, on their travels, found a calm,

remote and absolutely beautiful land named Pattumala. They constructed an ashram and

began catering to the needs of the indigenous people. A small chapel was also built for

religious purposes. After some years, it was noticed that prayers offered to the Mother

Mary, mother of Christ, were being answered and boons being granted. Although viewed

with askance at first, this strange happening captured the imagination of the people,

prompting the local priest to report this to the Church. Convinced of the benevolence of

the Lady Mary and the sanctity of the spot, the church has a sculpture of the Lady made

and blessed, later transporting it to Pattumala, via a procession that extended sixty-eight

kilometers. The huge statue, weighing over 8 tonnes, were hauled up the church and

fitted with just manpower minus any machinery!

The church is built from black and white granite taken from the local stone hills and

etched into beautiful descriptions depicting various moments from the life of Jesus

Christ and extolling the greatness and magnificence of the Almighty. The granite pillars

supporting the building rise twenty-eight feet into the air and are intercrossed with stone

carvings of flying pigeons and delicate floral markings. The rough-hewn stone on the

outside, making up the base of the structure exudes a feeling of solidity and permanence

to the church and give it a old-world feeling.

The altar, located at the very front inside, is encompassed on three sides by stone

seraphims holding cymbals and depicting them as chanting hymns in the presence of

God. The great church hall is cavernous and being devoid of any real furniture, shows an

echoic character, further accentuated by the stone characteristics of the building. Legend

says that the local people, fearing bandits, used to hide their valuables behind the altar,

knowing any footfall in the church would be magnified, alerting the monks living there.

No visit to Pattumala Church would be complete without a stroll of the amazingly

beautiful flower gardens adjoining the compound. The roses, orchids and anthoriums are

indeed a lovely sight to behold, more so being surrounded by the native beauty and silent

splendor of the Nilgiris.

No Indian meal is ever complete without the tantalizing array of side dishes one can dip

into. Indeed, most people are of the opinion that it is these savory dishes that lend the

unique taste to the meal as a whole. In the world of side dishes, an inevitable and truly

mouth-watering element is undoubtedly the chutney.

Originally derived from catni, a mix of Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Kannada dialects,

chutney has fast captured the tastes and tongues of Indians and foreigners alike. The

variety in ingredients and preparation methods used to make chutney are diverse, often

peculiar to a region and display the range of flavors available. There seems no end to the

amount of experimentation and fun one can have in choosing the flavor and base of this

dish. In this article, we shall go through some of the more common and easily preparable

chutney dishes from a wide range of regions and ingredients.

In days gone by, chutney used to be prepared with a mortar and pestle, grinding and

mixing the materials very finely to pulp. Though traditionalists still believe in the old

fashioned method and maintain that the taste truly comes out when done so, nowadays

people have taken to using the common kitchen mixer-grinder, of course using all the

spices and flavors needed.

Chutneys are relished and enjoyed depending on the palates of the people indigenous

to that particular locality. For instance, people from Himachal Pradesh would prefer a

variant of chutney seasoned with eggplant or guava. On the other hand, a Keralite relishes

one prepared with the help of coconuts or dried shrimps. Each variant has its own special

taste and flavor.

Although chutney is usually a side dish complementing rice and other grain food items, it

is also not uncommon to find them alongside such dishes as chapattis and fast food items.

Another very popular side dish among the masses seems to be the ever-present pickles.

Food lovers and connoisseurs alike agree that a good pickle changes the very soul of a

meal. Indeed, there is a joke doing the rounds that the pickle is the lazy housewife`s best

friend.

Pickles are very similar to chutney in the sense that it is used as basically an add-on to

the meal, adding a bit more spice and flavor to it. For this reason, pickles are usually

prepared integrating the acidic properties inherent in fruits and vegetables. After

marinating them properly in oil, they are usually stored in airtight jars for at least a few

weeks to help them mature. Mangoes and carrots are some of the most popular bases used

for the preparation of pickles.

One particular characteristic of pickles and chutneys is the fact that they retain their taste

and freshness as long as they are stored hermetically. That is to say that they do not lose

their flavor when not exposed to the environment. When in contact with air, the ambient

moisture in the air reacts with the pickles, generating chemical reactions that begin to

oxidize it. Therefore, it is imperative that chutneys and pickles are stored in airtight

compartments when not in use.

Several years ago, Bihar witnessed a strange sight. In full public gaze, the erstwhile and

irrepressible Laloo Prasad Yadav was seen taking to the streets in early every morning on

a bicycle, surrounded by his coterie and bodyguards. While most passed the phenomenon

of as attention-seeking, there were a few who praised it just for the symbolic significance.

And this was a time when climate change and the greenhouse effect was not even heard of.

Today, we wish more people do the same.

In India, the buzz about cycling has always been lack lustre, either reminiscent of childhood

or aligned with a low monetary status; this mode of transport hasn’t gotten its due till now

but with the recent developments taking place under the state ministry of Delhi it looks

as though changes are just around the corner. Recently the chief minister, Sheila Dixit

expressed her distaste with autorickshaw drivers, claiming how they are a menace to the

public. Adding to this, she mentioned how there needs to an alternative presented to the

public in case autorickshaws are wiped out as the people in Delhi need to have a stable

public transport system. At a summit recently held, Sheila Dixit championed the usage of

bicycles and mentioned how autorickshaw cycles operated with batteries could be a very

safe and environmentally inclined option, this also came in as she expressed her confidence

in having people use bicycles as an active mode of transport.

Indeed it is a matter of concern that compared to other transport methods, cycling could be

proven to be most prone to danger as has been evident in the past due to the less interest

paid in making roads cycle-safe, but as a part of the new strategy by the Chief Minister, as

adequate and appropriate cycle stands would be put into place in order to maintain safety

for cyclists, this way people can resume their day to day routine via this transportation. It

is, though, too soon to finalise a concept such as this as the population on roads in terms

of vehicles and bad traffic with the almost absent state of proper infrastructure but it isn’t

too soon to be optimistic about something that is nature friendly by being convenient to

the public. The environment advantages are endless if cycles are made more popular as fuel

capacity is zero and so is the ever increasing danger of pollution, cycles are also a healthier

option than any other mode of transportation as physical effort required can substitute

exercise without having as much strain. Delhi being first to initiate a movement such as this,

especially in the light of Delhi Cycling Club (DCC) submitting a memorandum of demands

to Chief Minister Sheila Dixit last month. The group sought her urgent intervention to

make Delhi roads safer and build suitable infrastructure and facilities for lakhs of people

who commute by bicycle but are always at the risk of pushed or hit by motor vehicles. This

movement has essentially paved way for other states to take notice of the benefits of

cycling, which could mirror the kind of regard it holds in the western countries, where cycle

in an integral form of commute.

Take for instance, a country like China. Now here is a nation where the number of

cyclists exceeds motorists. Indeed, it is a fact that the bicycle is the only way one can get

somewhere on time. Now compare this to India, where the average motorist spends an

hour and a half in traffic, and in the process, inhales a good deal of harmful engine exhaust

fumes. Proponents of the bicycle wax eloquent over the cardio-building and health-

maintaining benefits of the bicycle. It is a little known fact that having an hour’s ride on the

bicycle is worth forty minutes of vigorous exercise in the gym. Health experts stress that

cycling is very beneficial for the legs, abs and upper body physique. It also improves working

of the lungs, heart and functions as a good stress reliever.

And as from the environment point of view, the advantages have to obvious. Consider that

for every cycle being used, a gallon of diesel is being saved, and one can see the point.

Taking the example of a city like Delhi, where we can see hundreds of vehicles waiting for

the green at a traffic light, we can see the picture.

Vinay* (name changed) has been working at a KPO called TutorVista

for the past four and a half years. He heads a young team handling the

customer service department at his firm. But he has`nt been coming

to office for the past week. He has been hospitalized following a bike

accident on the way to office at 2.30 AM. Reason – he slept off at the

wheel. The medical investigation that followed showed that Vinay was

suffering from a case of sleep deprivation. Small wonder, considering

that for the past four years, he has been working almost 12 hours

a day with precious little time for rest. Factor in the impossible

deadlines, grueling pressure from the management and the irregular

work timings, one should`nt be too surprised. Vinay admits that he had

reported this to his boss, who promptly suggested visiting a doctor.

On his own time of course, since the firm has no medical personnel

available on campus.

Relatively speaking, Gopi is just plain lucky. He was just fired for

nodding off for a few seconds at his desk during a quiet interval at

work. In a similar fashion, he had requested for a day`s leave so that

he could catch up on his sleep, but his manager had declined, citing

the reason as laziness.

Vinay and Gopi are not alone. The outsourcing industry has seen

its peak in India with several companies setting up shop with their

offshoring dictum in mind. Considering the wealth of skilled and

semi-skilled young workforce, relatively low pay packages and high

intelligence quotient, BPOs and KPOs seem to have sprung up from the

ground in many metro and urban cities in India. The industry indeed

has taken the employment market by storm in the last decade or so.

Small wonder then that the youth flock towards this trend today.

Among the lesser known patterns of a BPO employee is the amount

of neglect and abuse the human body endures. Man was meant

to be awake during the day and sleep at night. Conversely, the

outsourcing industry has created a daily regimen which encompasses

exactly the opposite. Almost 80% of the BPO workforce in India work

throughout the night and small hours of the day, resulting in a myriad

of physiological and psychological ailments, not least some of which

are exhaustion, stress-related problems, hypertension, eye disorders

and digestive problems. Studies are on to analyze these concerns and

their findings have turned up surprising and frankly, alarming results.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, an independent

survey body, had conducted an across-the-board survey to ascertain

the effects of the outsourcing industry and the results were as follows.

32 per cent of the workforce suffered from sleep disorders, 25 per cent

had developed digestive problems, and about 20 per cent suffered

from eyesight problems. 13% reported back pain from sitting for hours

at a stretch. Then there are sleep disorders as workers must always

be prepared to work on any shift. In our study, 13% reported insomnia

and 7% reported fatigue. Six months after giving up a call centre job,

workers still have difficulty sleeping at normal times. Women have

gynaecological problems because of irregular sleep cycles. Some 13%

reported visual problems such as eye fatigue; 3% reported headaches;

23% had indigestion and constipation. They suffer repetitive stress

injuries from long hours at the computer and “repetitive voice injury”

from speaking on the telephone for hours continuously.

The story does not end here. A job at a BPO entails constant pressure

and presence of mind on the work at hand. Add to this, the average

age of a BPO employee, around 24, and we notice a widespread usage

of intoxicants and pick-me-ups in prevalence. This includes usage of

tobacco related products like cigarettes and gutka, and even a dosage

of up to 8 cups of coffee a day! Calculate the amount of nicotine and

caffeine entering the body and one gets the picture. As is well known,

tobacco and caffeine are some of the most dangerous stuffs to be

ingested, leading to a gamut of illnesses, including respiratory and

alimentary problems, cardio-related complications and nervous issues.

Consider Aravind. Aravind was fresh out of junior college and started

to work for an amazing five figure salary. He was athletic and robust,

running for his college and being vice-captain of the football team. A

year down the lane, and he now finds difficulty in running two laps.

Reason – he loses breath easily - he`s started smoking. It came easily

to him, a way to keep his eyelids open through the night, working

gruelling hours. That’s not his only addiction. He has developed a

taste for strong coffee, and has several cups throughout his shift. A

combination of caffiene and tobacco has marred this young man`s

body to the point where he would need years to remedy the damage.

Vinay might have been lucky to end up with just a fractured leg,

but there are several other people who did not have that amount of

good fortune. A recent incidence in Delhi, at a premium outsourcing

company suggests the same. Rahul, working the midnight shift, was

coming back home on his moped, dozed off for just a few seconds and

accidentally rammed into a parked van, injuring his head and suffering

other internal injuries. Though out of danger in a few weeks after a

whole plethora of operations and treatment, doctors at the Apollo

Hospital now say that it was a very close call.

Studies are on to investigate the above said problems and hopefully

find solutions for them. Almost all BPOs and KPOs now have their own

transport facilities and encourage their employees to use them. Efforts

are also on to provide good and healthy food to the employees while

on the job. Noted outsourcing companies like Aditya Birla Minacs have

a full-time infirmary on campus and a visiting doctor coming three

times a week. An on-demand cab is also available 24/7 in case of any

emergency trips to a hospital.

Indian regulatory authorities haven't really got around to framing

regulations for the BPO industry.The only law we have in India that

is remotely linked to the BPO industry is the Indian IT Act of 2000.

While regulations are galore in reference to data theft, client records

privacy and anti-fraud norms, the state of the legal situation with

regard to BPO employees is virtually nil. The government, however,

begs to differ. “BPOs are covered under the existing labour laws. The

state governments are appropriate governments under various labour

laws and legally vested with powers to deal with violation of labour

laws in the BPO sector," K C Rao, Minister for Labour and Employment,

informed Lok Sabha in a written statement. Ostrich with his head in

the sand, perhaps?

Following is an excerpt from an interview with Dr,Vinod Tiwari, a

leading medical practitioner in Navi Mumbai.

“ There is no doubt that the workforce in the BPO sector are frequent

visitors to the doctor`s clinic. We have seen a lot of cases dealing with

exhaustion, sleeplessness, dependence on intoxicants, frequent bouts

of illness and other physiological disorders. It seems to indicate that

the call center industry needs to get a heads-up on the deteriorating

health conditions of its employees.”

A ray of light seems far off in this sector, but its definitely there.