PNS|Eluru
National Safai Karamchari Commission member Dr. PP Vava has asked the officials to take steps for the welfare of Safai Karamcharis and extend them financial assistance under various welfare schemes.
Safai Karamchari Commission member Vava held a meeting with Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh, SP Mary Prashanthi and other officials here on Thursday and reviewed the welfare of karamacharies and other issues.
Speaking on the occasion, PP Vava said that the district authorities should provide financial assistance and bank loans generously under various government schemes to the karamacharies who are struggling to keep the society healthy. Vava said that the Supreme Court has ordered that the Safai workers should be treated as human beings and given freedom, equality, social equality and justice in the society.
He said that awareness programmes should be organized in such a way that sanitation workers can understand about various schemes and bank loans, adding that medical camps should be organised for them once every three months and health check-ups should be provided.
He told the district officials that special measures should be taken for the health of underground drainage cleaning workers. Identity cards with ESI and PF numbers should be provided, he added. He said that it should be ensured that the karamcharis would avail the Ayushman Bharat scheme and also the YSR Arogyasri health scheme.
Vava said that the DPO should take measures to increase wages of sanitation staff in rural areas from the current Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 per month. “Manual scavenging should not be allowed. If anyone does that, fines and punishments will be imposed against those who are responsible for the same according to the law,” he directed the officials.
Vava also suggested that houses should be given to the sensation staff or plots should be allocated to build houses, adding that subsidies for their children’s education should be provided. Banks should provide loans to the karamcharis at four percent interest, he said, stating that laws should be implemented strictly so that everyone gets minimum wages.
District Collector Prasanna Venkatesh said that all measures were taken for the welfare of the karamcharis in the district, stating they were being provided financial assistance and supporting their growth. A medical camp is organized every three months in urban and rural areas especially for them, he stated.
Regarding the payment of minimum wages, in addition to the current salary of Rs 6,000 per month in the rural areas, a resolution would be taken under the direction of the Sarpanch Gram Panchayat and necessary steps would also be taken to disburse Rs 9,000, the Collector made it clear.
Municipal workers honorary president B Somaiah, AITUC leader Krishnamacharulu and municipal commissioner S Venkata Krishna also spoke. Social welfare JD Jayaprakash, ZP CEO Ravikumar, DPO T Srinivas Viswanath and DRDA PD R Vijayaraju and DMHO Dr.D Aasha were among those who were present.
