WORKMEN COMPENSATION ACT CANNOT ADDRESS THIS !
Shift end activities were at peak. Next day a big consignment was to leave for USA. Paper work was in progress. By the time it was ready, the clock was showing 7 pm. The team decided to visit the authority's place to obtain signature and approval. The official used to stay at a district place, about 45 km away from the plant. Two persons took company's jeep to reach him. He was informed over phone and he had consented to oblige.
At night around 1 am, we got phone call. Our jeep had met with a severe accident on the highway and all three persons in the jeep died on the spot.
We rushed. The scene was unbelievable. Jeep had crashed. The dead bodies were beyond any identification. Police were informed. We went to government hospital. Postmortem and other formalities went on till 7 am. Meanwhile we were trying to find out about this accident. The government official confirmed that around 9.30 pm he had cleared all documents. May be jeep planned for return journey so as to reach before midnight. What exactly went wrong, nobody knows but there was collision on the highway and the truck driver managed to vanish as usual. Probably the bodies continued lying on the road for some time for want of help.
Finally, some vehicle stopped. No mechanism was with them to identify and report. They managed to locate our company's logo on the dashboard of jeep. Somehow I-cards were also traced and then the news came to security gate.
Hearts of family members were obviously broken, when our ambulance reached company. Such scene always makes me uncomfortable. That is " professional hazard " for HR fraternity. Meeting body pieces of colleagues ( with whom we have shared lots of moments of joy in the past) is nothing worst than sin. Words have no voice, when it comes to speaking to their family members on such occasion.
The real question was- If two employees had booked company jeep and prepared gate pass, after official permission, where does the THIRD person come in picture ?
One canteen boy, after finishing his daily routine, just requested them and accompanied- without intimation, without permission. The most unfortunate person that day, who had invited his death- a young 20-21 year old boy, that too a person working on our premises through a contractor. He was not even our employee.
Final rituals were performed. Legal matters initiated. With heavy heart, our routine started. As per the provisions of Workmen Compensation Act, we settled two cases. Wife of one of the employees was even offered a job as clerk on humanitarian grounds.
Question was about the canteen boy ! Who will take the responsibility of his compensation? We found out a solution- appeal was made for personal contributions to all the employees. Whatever few thousands thus collected, were handed over to his father. Nowhere match to the loss ! Only a small satisfaction, that we continue to be " HUMAN".
Legislation never thinks of such situations while being framed or amended.
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