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4 Amritsar MC officials booked for death by negligence

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 28

Mayor assures job to victim’s wife

Demanding a permanent job for victim’s wife, members of the sanitation workers’ union and deceased’s kin met Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu. The Mayor assured them of presenting a proposal for a permanent job to Jageer’s wife in the Budget session of the House. The MC will also give Rs10 lakh to kin of the deceased.

Officials, kin ‘reach compromise’

On the complaint of Gurmeet Kaur, the police booked four MC officials under Section 304-A of the IPC and Section 3(1) J of the SC/ST Act, 1989. As the MC has assured to provide a job, the officials have reportedly reached a compromise and Gurmeet Kaur may withdraw the case against them.

A day after a protest by family members of sewerman Jageer Singh, who lost his life after inhaling poisonous gas, the police on Friday booked four MC officials on the charge of causing death by negligence.

The Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, SDO and JE were also booked under the SC/ST Act.

Jagadish Hiremani, a member of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, advocated the arrest of the officials concerned. He instructed the district administration and the civic body to give compensation of Rs10 lakh to the deceased’s family.

“We will meet the family and give Rs10 lakh to the wife of Jageer. It was a clear case of negligence by officials. One of the junior officials should have been present on the spot to provide first aid to the victim. MC officials did not provide him the safety kit. Moreover, manual scavenging is banned and the MC should not ask anyone to enter manholes,” he added.

Earlier, at a meeting with officials of various departments of the district administration and the MC, Hiremani asked them to address problems of sanitation workers on a priority basis.

He said the commission was serious about the safety of the sanitation employees.

Hiremani said, “It is our duty to address the problems faced by sanitation workers and sewermen on a priority basis. Special steps should be taken for their safety and desilting should be carried out with machines. In case, an employee needs to enter a manhole, proper safety standards should be adopted.”

He asked officials to provide gloves, face masks, uniforms and all safety equipment to sanitation workers so that they do not suffer from any illness.

The officials were asked to conduct health check-up camps for employees regularly and assure health insurance plan for them.

Hiremani added that the dependents of the deceased employees should be given jobs immediately so that their families do not face hardships. He also directed them to ensure that sanitation workers get their salaries on time.

Additional MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Palvi Chauri, Deputy Director, Local Bodies Rajat Ubrai, Assistant Commissioner Alka Kalia, DSP Sohn Singh and District Welfare Officer Palve Sereshta were present on the occasion.