Corporate Citizen Slaps The Consciousness Amongst 94% Of Women Construction Workers Who, Despite Being Aware Of The Ill Effects Of Pollution, Ignore It For Fear Of Job Loss

Their collective consciousness has found voice in a Delhi-based study conducted to gauge why these women never raised their voices. The study stated, “Ninety-four percent of women never raised their voices or took any steps to prevent the negative impact of air pollution due to the fear of losing their jobs.” Many felt that it was the contractors’ responsibility to prevent air pollution at construction sites. But the horrifying truth is that around 85% of these women construction workers agreed to air pollution’s negative impact on human health. Nearly 75% of the women reported feeling sick and uncomfortable, and more than 73% of women combated problems linked to breathing, asthma, skin allergy, redness, coughing, or eye irritation. Around 96 % of the respondents affirmed the ill effects of air pollution on their overall lifestyle. The Purpose India and Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) joint survey approached women construction workers from Bakkarwala, Gokulpuri, and Sawda Ghevra in Delhi from August 2021 to April 2022, mobilised and enabled them to understand the impact of air pollution in their lives and that of their children. The sample considered 390 women construction workers primarily in the 36 years+ age group, mostly illiterate and predominantly either Scheduled Castes or OBCs, with 87% being married. The objective of the survey has been to build knowledge and impact local governments for a suitable and actionable support policy framework. However, the silver lining indicated that about 6% of the women took preventive steps by using masks, dupattas to cover their faces, or wearing full-sleeved clothes. Some have attempted to raise concerns about air pollution at construction sites or sprinkled water on debris to minimise the impacts, but they need greater support. About 90% of the women participants have urged the government to improve public transport. Undoubtedly, construction workers fear losing their livelihoods in their quest for healthy working conditions, but what stops the authorities from laying a sustainable public transport and eco-friendly infrastructure system for all.

Corporate Citizen Claps For Pune’s Preeti Maske, For Her Latest Guinness World Record Feat, Becoming The Fastest Female Solo Cyclist To Travel From Leh To Manali In Approximately 55 Hours And 13 Minutes

Accomplishing her ultra-cycling achievement, the 45-year-old mother of two fulfilled the solo Guinness World Record by covering the 430 km stretch well within 60 hours. With constant support from the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in Leh, she kickstarted her journey on June 22nd. She completed the arduous journey on June 24th along with her crew, including technical experts from the World Ultra Cycling Association. Her accomplishment breaks the age barrier in following one’s passion. “To overcome my illness, I started cycling at 40. If I can overcome my fears, then any woman can,” she said. Sports analysts saw the hilly terrain and the 8,000m height gained en route as extremely difficult, and impossible. But she rode on to the cheers of her crew and the BRO. She had to resort to oxygen supplements twice in her journey when she felt out of breath at high mountain passes. “Preeti had to cycle in harsh varying climate on all the high altitude passes fighting the sun, strong headwinds, snowfall, and freezing temperatures,” said Anand Kansal, her crew member. He reiterated that the BRO made the record-breaking feat possible by deploying two support vehicles with a satellite phone and medical assistant to accompany Priti. As she basks in her newfound glory, Priti continues to hold stakes to her previous achievements as the fastest female cyclist on the 6,000-kilometre-long Golden Quadrilateral, connecting India’s four major metro cities of - Delhi (North), Kolkata (East), Mumbai (West) and Chennai (South), interspersed with smaller cities and towns within the National Highway Authorities’ ‘Svarnim Chaturbhuj’. The cycling enthusiast has also set and broken numerous other records gaining laurels since embarking on her passion for cycling in 2017, and the journey continues.