Nullah-Drain Cleaning Drive On in Bhopal: Sanitation Workers Placed On Job Sans Safety Gear

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not distributed safety kits to sanitation workers though it has launched nullah-drain cleaning drive ahead of monsoon. The civic body stated that Corporation depended more on machanised sanitation rather than manual.

According to BMC employees, distribution of kits are mandatory under National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme and Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. All sewer and septic tank workers should be given personal protective equipment and safety devices before the onset of monsoon. 

Mayor-in-Council (MiC) member RK Baghel said, “Kits have not been distributed this year as sanitation workers have stock of previous year, which they are using. They do not use gumboots and gloves because they are slippery.”

The BMC Employees’ Association president Ashok Verma said, “Only gloves do not serve the purpose in septic tank. Safety equipment should be distributed according to nature of work of sanitation workers, such as face masks and aprons for sweepers, boots, face masks, aprons and hand gloves for drain cleaners, and helmets, boots and hand gloves for electricians.”

When contacted, additional municipal commissioner Devendra Chauhan said he would look into the matter.