Sanitation workers keep society healthy: Sherising Dagor

A meeting was held at Niyojan Bhavan in Chandrapur to review the various problems faced by sanitation workers, where Sherising Dagor, chairman of the Maharashtra State Safai Karmachari Commission, said sanitation workers are an essential and important part of society. He said these workers look after the health of society while facing several difficulties and health hazards themselves, and it is because of them that society remains healthy. Dagor told officials and staff that their problems should be resolved sensitively, keeping their contribution in mind.

The meeting was attended by District Collector Vasumana Pant, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Akunuri Naresh, Municipal Administration Officer Dr Vidya Gaikwad, Umesh Pipre, Sunil Tambe and officials from various departments.

Dagor said the major responsibility for keeping the entire city clean rests on the shoulders of sanitation workers. They continue to serve on very low wages while facing several illnesses and health hazards. If sanitation workers do not turn up for work, it directly affects the cleanliness of the city and the health of society, so every officer and employee should understand the importance of their work.

Referring to the service rendered by sanitation workers during the Covid period, Dagor said these people served without concern for their own lives in very difficult circumstances. When relatives of several families were far away, it was sanitation workers who took on the responsibility of performing the last rites of the deceased. He said the administration should remember this contribution and show greater sensitivity in resolving their problems, and also make concrete efforts to raise their standard of living.

Dagor gave a clear directive that a separate nodal officer be appointed to follow up continuously and settle pending issues concerning sanitation workers within a fixed time. He said all concerned departments should coordinate with each other and prepare a proper plan to resolve sanitation workers' issues on time.

Dagor said the state government is alert to the welfare of sanitation workers and several important decisions have been taken in their interest under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, in some places there appears to be a lack of seriousness in implementing the recommendations of the Lad-Page Committee. He said pending matters on this should be brought forward immediately and settled as per rules.

He said regular health checkups for sanitation workers are very necessary. The concerned system should ensure they get insurance cover, minimum wages and other facilities on time. He said the necessary steps should be taken to provide, through the same bank used to pay sanitation workers' wages, health insurance of five lakh rupees and an accident death insurance cover of one crore rupees.

Dagor also said it is necessary to appoint as many sanitation workers as required according to population. He said the concerned system should immediately prepare a plan to provide houses to sanitation workers eligible under the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Shramsafalya Yojana. He directed that government schemes meant to raise the living standards of sanitation workers be effectively delivered to them.