Officials told to strictly implement labour laws meant for sanitation workers’ welfare

The government provides compensation of Rs 30 lakh in case a sanitation worker dies while performing cleaning duties. This was stated by Hardeep Singh Gill, Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, here on Friday.

He said the compensation is applicable to all sanitation workers, whether they are permanent, temporary, contractual or working on an outsourced basis. Gill was speaking during a meeting held at the District Administrative Complex in Amritsar with district officials and representatives of sanitation workers’ unions.

Chairing the meeting, he directed officials to strictly implement labour laws and government rules meant for the welfare of sanitation workers and ensure that they are paid wages as per the rates fixed by the government.

He instructed officials of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to ensure that no sanitation worker is made to carry out manual scavenging. Gill warned that if any such case comes to the notice of the commission, strict legal action would be taken against the officials concerned.

He said the primary objective of the commission is to safeguard the interests of sanitation workers and improve their living standards. The Vice-Chairman further directed officials to ensure that identity cards are issued to all sanitation workers and that the cards clearly mention their blood group.

Gill said the commission would address the grievances of sanitation workers on priority and coordinate with the departments concerned for their resolution. Workers facing any difficulty can approach the commission directly, he added.

During the meeting, officials of the municipal corporation were asked to immediately fill vacant posts of sanitation workers and ensure the provision of safety kits to all employees. Gill emphasised that sanitation workers should be covered under medical insurance so that they can receive support in case of any untoward incident.

Gill also listened to the concerns raised by representatives of sanitation workers’ unions and assured them that their genuine demands and issues would be taken up by the commission. Before the meeting, a two-minute silence was observed in memory of sanitation workers who lost their lives while cleaning in Indore.

Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh assured the Vice-Chairman that all the instructions issued during the meeting would be implemented in letter and spirit and that the directions of the commission would be followed strictly. Among those present were Assistant Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Vishal Wadhawan, Health Officer Dr Kiran Kumar, Dr Rama, Civil Surgeon Dr Satinder Singh, District Education Officer Rajesh Sharma, and representatives of sanitation workers’ unions, including Vinod Kumar Bitta, Surinder Tona, Ashok Hans and Shakti Kalyan, besides officials from the police department and other departments.