Venkatesan urges welfare of the sanitation workers

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 12 (EMN): Chairman of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, M Venkatesan, on Tuesday urged the district administration and municipal authorities to look into the welfare of the Safai Karamcharis (sanitation workers) to let them avail the welfare schemes and provide them with proper equipment.

He was speaking at the reception and interaction programme during his visit to the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC)’s office on Tuesday. Venkatesan stated that the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was constituted in 1994 as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament viz. ‘National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993’ and added that since then none from South-India had hold the office of the chairman and it was only this time the government of India had given the position to the south which no other prime minister had given to the same, other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While informing that that both of his parents were also from Safai Karamcharis background, he maintained that to be born from such family and to raise to the post of chairman for National Commission for Safai Karamcharis was not even dreamt of but was made it possible by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He stated that the NCSK is a constitutional body and it could do much for the welfare of the sanitation workers, whose tenure of office is three years and the chairman post is equal to the union minister of state empowered by the government. In this regard, he urged the sanitation workers to share their problems and grievances, which he said without sharing and highlighting the same, it cannot be addressed and go unnoticed.

He maintained that the problems and grievances would be carried forward to the government up to the chief secretary, chief minister and governor's level and if necessary to the government of India and president of India so as to address their plights.

The chairman also interacted with the sanitation workers and listened to the various grievances brought by the workers pertaining to salary/pay.

He has assured to take up the issue of salary with the state government and committed to write to the chief minister and the governor within a week for enhancement of the salary.

While pointing out the problems of the workers being poorly equipped with kits and equipment, he urged the Municipal authority to look into the same.

The chairman observed that many of the sanitation workers were casual workers on fixed pay and in the event of any accidents and casualties the worker would be affected which he stated that provident fund is compulsory for all workers and added the commission will take up the same with the government.

He also highlighted the avenues and benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) which is known as Prime Minister's Safety Insurance Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) - Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Insurance Scheme-- which are government-backed safety and life insurance scheme in India.

While stating that many states in the country also have state commission for the Safai Karamcharis besides the national commission, Venkatesan asserted that the national commission would recommend to the Nagaland chief minister to set up a commission for the Safai Karamcharis in the state to take the same.

The chairman also pointed out that the sanitation workers could also avail loan for their children's education and meet other ends need from National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). He, however, stated that till date not a even single person from the state of Nagaland has avail the benefits.

He further urged the workers to highlight their problems and grievances through the commission website, email and phone numbers sating that its members would visit the state to monitor the implementation and progress of the schemes and privileges meant for the sanitation workers.

The welcome address was delivered the deputy commissioner of Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, while the programme was chaired by the administrator of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), T Lanusenla Longkumer.