Bhagwat Prasad Makwana, Chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, held a review meeting with officials at the Bijapur Guest House to assess the rights and welfare schemes concerning sanitation workers. He emphasized that ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of these workers is the collective responsibility of the administration.
Issuing directives for a complete ban on manual scavenging, the Chairman stated that workers must not be required to enter septic tanks or sewers under any circumstances. To achieve this, he stressed the need to transform ‘manholes’ into ‘machine holes’ and advocated for the use of modern machinery and robotic technology.
He directed officials to submit a proposal to the government for salary increments for sanitation workers and to ensure the provision of regular PPE kits, safety training, and coverage under life and health insurance schemes. Additionally, he instructed that workers’ families be linked to the ‘NAMASTE’ scheme to facilitate self-employment and skill development, and mandated the issuance of identity cards to all eligible workers.
