NCSK calls for stringent punishment to stop manual scavenging

PANAJI, Goa: The National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) has expressed their discontent over the manual cleaning of sewage chambers and urged the state officials to take stern actions to end the menace of manual scavenging.

Anjna Panwar, Vice President, NCSK, has also highlighted the issue of delay in disbursement of compensation to the families of the workers who lost their lives during sewer cleaning. She said, “Almost every day there is a sewerage death. People need to be aware that this is wrong and that manual cleaning of sewers cannot be done and it has to be done with machines”.

Panwar had a review meeting with government officials, including the officials from the collector’s office, tourism department, police, municipal workers and private contractors at the secretariat. She also called for the timely disbursement of the compensation to the aggrieved family for the quick resolution of cases.

She added, “If the death is in a sewerage chamber then ₹30 lakh has to be paid and if the victim is SC/ST, then under the atrocities act action must be taken and compensation given”, while calling on to the police and two collectors to look into the instances of manual cleaning of sewers and manholes. She came down heavily on government officials for not disclosing the details about the workers, the benefits accorded to them and their terms of employment. She also conveyed her displeasure over the absence of the chief officers of the 12 urban local bodies in the meeting.

Speaking for the workers, she said, “They must be given uniforms, group insurance, medical insurance under Ayushman Bharat and id cards that mention their blood group and ESIC number. Proper safety equipment must be provided along with shoes and gloves”. She advised all departments not to assign heavy work or ask women to climb on trucks.