In “Farming without fear” (September 7), Surinder Sud asks a pertinent question “Why can’t India design ergonomic farm equipment?”. The sad answer is that this sector is so under-capitalised that most farmers can afford only the most primitive equipment. Any better-designed equipment will simply have no takers unless farming becomes more remunerative.
A contraption called an engine van is becoming increasingly popular even on tarred public roads in rural areas all over India. It’s a wooden (sometimes steel-reinforced) platform mounted through springs on a chassis with two motorcycle-type wheels, a diesel engine taken from an agricultural pump, a band brake and a motorcycle handle with accelerator and brake levers.
Even though the engine van is extremely unsafe (with numerous casualties including backbone injuries from falls), it is so popular and convenient that no state government can act against it even though it does not conform to any road-safety regulations. The only saving grace is that since it trundles at a medium speed, fatal accidents are uncommon.
Alok Sarkar, Kolkata
Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard,
Nehru House, 4,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201;
letters@bsmail.in